Tennis Australia chief executive and Australian Open boss Craig Tiley will defect to the United States later this year, appointed as the USTA’s new chief executive.
After months of speculation, the USTA confirmed on Wednesday morning AEDT the
64-year-old would replace former chief executive Lew Sherr, who accepted a job at the New York Mets last year.
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“Craig brings a rare combination of global credibility at the highest level of the sport and a proven commitment to growing the game at the grassroots. That balance is exactly what this moment requires,” said Brian Vahaly, the USTA’s interim co-CEO.
“As we look to fully leverage the power of the US Open as a platform for inspiration and growth, Craig’s leadership and understanding of the entire tennis ecosystem will be invaluable. We are excited to build on our current momentum of six consecutive years of participation growth, and we are confident he is the right leader to guide American tennis into its next chapter.”
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Tiley has served as the Australian Open’s tournament director since 2006, taking over as
Tennis Australia’s chief executive in 2013.
“I am truly honoured to step into the role of CEO of the USTA later this year,” Tiley said in a statement.
“I’ve long admired the organisation’s leadership in growing the game across the United States and the extraordinary success of the US Open. Tennis has shaped my life — personally and professionally — and having begun my tennis journey in the U.S. as an NCAA championship coach, this opportunity feels like a full-circle moment. I’m excited to return to American tennis and to work alongside our leadership locally and nationally to continue building the sport’s reach, impact, and future.”
He continued: “Tennis is one of the few truly global sports that you can play for a lifetime, at any level, and that’s part of its magic.
“It has an incredible ability to bring people together — players, fans, communities — across countries and cultures. I firmly believe the opportunity ahead for our sport is enormous. We’re moving from engaging millions who attend events live to connecting with billions of fans around the world digitally, year-round. If we continue to innovate and tell the story of our sport in a compelling way, tennis will only grow stronger, more connected, and more impactful in the years ahead.”
Tiley successfully navigated the Australian Open through the Covid-19 years, while a record 1,368,043 fans attended this year’s grand slam event in Melbourne.
Tennis Australia chief events officer Stephen Farrow, also tournament director of the United Cup, is among the leading candidates to replace Tiley in the role, while Peter Johnston, Cameron Pearson and former AFL boss Gillon McLachlan have also been touted as options.