A senior Liberal MP and his wife have settled legal action with one of Australia's biggest newspapers after it cast doubt over the legality of their courtship.

Former tennis ace turned Victorian Liberal deputy leader Sam Groth sued the Herald Sun over articles published in late July that focused on when he began his relationship with his wife Brittany.

Following mediation talks, the parties have reached an agreement to end the dispute with legal bills mounting ahead of a scheduled trial in May.

AAP has been told the confidential settlement includes a published apology and compensation in the hundreds of thousands of dollars.

An initial front-page story by journalist Stephen Drill said the pair admitted they got together when he was coaching at Templestowe Park tennis club in 2011.

It

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