Craig Tiley Named USTA CEO
Craig Tiley, who served as CEO of Tennis Australia for 13 years and oversaw the Australian Open, has been appointed as the new chief executive of the United States Tennis Association (USTA). Tiley's tenure at Tennis Australia began in 2013, and his move marks a major leadership shift for American tennis at both grassroots and professional levels.
- Under Tiley's leadership, the Australian Open's attendance grew significantly, with the 2026 event drawing a record 1.35 million fans. He also oversaw a major redevelopment of the Melbourne Park precinct and expanded the tournament to 15 days. - Tiley's tenure in Australia wasn't without controversy; he faced calls to resign over the handling of Novak Djokovic's visa situation ahead of the 2022 Australian Open, which resulted in the player's deportation. - He is credited with more than doubling Tennis Australia's revenues and increasing national tennis participation by 8% in the last year alone, partly through junior programs like "Hot Shots". - The USTA has seen a recent surge in tennis participation, with an increase of 4.9 million players over the past two years, and has set a goal to reach 35 million players by 2035. - Tiley has a background in American tennis, having previously been the Director of Tennis at the University of Illinois, where he led the men's team to an NCAA Division I national championship in 2003. - The former USTA CEO, Lew Sherr, under whose leadership the US Open's revenue surpassed $500 million annually, stepped down to become the President of Business Operations for the New York Mets. - Tiley is known for his innovative approach, having launched unique events like the 'Million Dollar One Point Slam' and expanding the Australian Open's digital and broadcast footprint globally.
