Craig Tiley Leaves Australian Open for USTA
Craig Tiley, the CEO of Tennis Australia who oversaw the Australian Open's growth to a record 1.4 million attendance in 2026, has announced his departure to become the new CEO of the United States Tennis Association (USTA). Tiley, who spent 13 years with Tennis Australia, described the move as a "full circle moment" and signals a major leadership shift in global tennis.
For Craig Tiley, the move to the USTA is a return to his professional roots. Before his tenure at Tennis Australia, the South African-born executive had a significant career in American tennis, serving as the head coach for the University of Illinois men's tennis team from 1994 to 2005. He led the team to an NCAA Division I National Championship in 2003 with a perfect 32-0 record. Under Tiley's leadership as CEO since 2013, the Australian Open was transformed into a global entertainment powerhouse, often dubbed "The Happy Slam." He is credited with leveraging concerns that the tournament could be poached by other cities to secure significant government investment in Melbourne Park's facilities, including three stadiums with roofs. This focus on infrastructure and fan experience set a new benchmark for the Grand Slams. Tiley's time in Australia also saw significant growth in grassroots tennis. During his tenure, tennis became the second most-participated sport in the country, behind soccer. In 2025 alone, the sport saw 8.3% growth, and over the last five years of his leadership, overall participation grew by 30%, while the number of female coaches increased by 60%. However, his leadership was not without controversy. Tiley's tenure was notably challenged by the COVID-19 pandemic, which led to a $100 million loss for the 2021 Australian Open. He also faced significant criticism and calls for his resignation over the handling of Novak Djokovic's visa and medical exemption saga in 2022, which resulted in the top player's deportation just before the tournament. Tiley joins a USTA that has seen recent leadership turnover. He replaces Lew Sherr, who stepped down in June 2025 to become the President of Business Operations for the New York Mets. The organization also recently saw Stacey Allaster, the first female tournament director of the US Open, transition into a special advisory role after the 2025 tournament. The USTA has set an ambitious goal of reaching 35 million tennis players in the United States by 2035. Tiley has been specifically identified by the USTA board for his dual ability to manage a top-tier global event while also fostering grassroots growth, a combination they believe is essential to achieving this target. Tennis participation in the U.S. has already seen a 54% increase since 2019, reaching 27.3 million players in 2025.
