'Scum of the earth': Groth slams abusers after frustrating loss

Australian tennis player Sam Groth has branded gamblers and keyboard warriors 'the absolute scum of the earth' after receiving abuse following his Wimbledon qualifying loss overnight.

The 29-year-old was defeated by Italian veteran Simone Bolelli, who won the first-round encounter 7-6 (7-3) 2-6 11-9 at Roehampton.

Groth sent down 30 aces but his powerful serve came back to bite him as he recorded 11 double faults, the last of which came on Bolelli's first match point.

That error pushed the New South Welshman's emotions over the edge as he snapped his racquet before congratulating his opponent at the net.

He proceeded to throw his broken racquet over the fence, leaving Bolelli and the commentators surprised.

"He's just not controlling his emotions as well as he could have, Sam Groth, (he gave) his opponent some opportunities throughout," one caller said.

Upon seeing a later replay they added: "What a disappointing moment for Sam Groth. Thirty aces but the most important one coming as a double fault on match point ... Showing frustration because that's not the way he wanted to go out."

Groth arrived in London in solid form after reaching semi-finals at Challenger tournaments in Nottingham and Ilkley in the past two weeks.

"It's nice coming in playing good tennis, and I can't wait to get out there and compete," he wrote on the Tennis Channel website.

But after going down to Bolelli in two hours and 10 minutes, Groth had no time for those who sent messages to the player after seemingly losing money on the match: "Gamblers and keyboard warriors who abuse players after they have just lost, are the absolute scum of the Earth!!"

He received plenty of support after sending the tweet, with many fans agreeing and imploring him to push on.

Bolelli was pleased to come through the "very tough match" against his big-serving opponent.

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"The only chance you have to win the point is if he's making double faults or you try to return by putting the ball over there and try to play the point," he said.

"It really is a very big serve and here it is tough to read. The bounce is so fast, so it's very frustrating."

The second commentator defended Groth's strategy, arguing he has no choice but to play to his strengths.

"That's the risk you take (hunting aces). I'm not sure, actually, what's over that fence," he said.

"I hope someone ducked, if it was people walking past. I'm sure it wasn't but he gave that a good throw, didn't he? Well, that's just frustration. Serving a double fault after a match of that length, I mean obviously it's tough.

"But when you risk that much, 30 aces, you are going to serve (double faults) hitting second serves at 115, 120 (miles per hour) all the time."