An outgoing state Liberal MP plans to relinquish his deputy leadership role next month as the party prepares to reset ahead of an upcoming election.
Victorian MP Sam Groth confirmed on Monday he won't recontest his seat of Nepean on Melbourne's Mornington Peninsula at the November state election.
He revealed that party infighting and public pressure on his family had become unbearable.
State Opposition Leader Jess Wilson has now been advised that Mr Groth will vacate the deputy role at the next Liberal party room meeting in February.
The announcement comes months after the senior Liberal MP and his wife, Brittany, settled legal action with one of Australia's biggest newspapers.
Mr Groth sued Melbourne's Herald Sun newspaper over articles published in late July relating to when the pair began their relationship.
During the legal process, it was revealed that a Liberal MP had contacted the outlet with a "piece of gossip".
"I have always tried to approach this job with honesty, hard work and a clear focus on the people who put their trust in me," Mr Groth said earlier this week.
"But when you find yourself having to fight against your own team, it becomes impossible to put those interests first."
Redbridge pollster and former Liberal strategist Tony Barry said Mr Groth had limited name recognition amongst voters, despite his sporting pedigree, and his retirement would not have much impact on the party.
He believes the Victorian Liberals are still in election contention, amid an "incredible" mood for change in Victoria against the sitting Labor government.
"What they need to see from the Liberal Party is sustained performance and unity, and if the Liberal Party can demonstrate that in the next 11 months, they could potentially win pretty comfortably," Mr Barry said.
Mr Goth's life in politics followed a storied tennis career, which included a world record-breaking, fastest-ever serve in 2012 and a career-high ATP singles ranking of 53 in 2015.
The 38-year-old was elected to the seat of Nepean, which covers the southern part of the Mornington Peninsula, during Victoria's 2022 state election.
The Liberals reclaimed the ultra-marginal seat from Labor, which had held it with a margin of less than one per cent.
The former tennis star has said he will take time to consider his next steps.
