Craig Tiley, a prominent name in the world of tennis, has been officially appointed as the new CEO of the United States Tennis Association (USTA), a move that marks a significant turnaround in the leadership of the organization responsible for the famous US Open and for the development of grassroots tennis in the United States. At 64 years old and with extensive experience in the sport, Tiley brings an impressive background, having led Tennis Australia and served as the director of the Australian Open since 2006, where he set attendance and revenue records while expanding the global reach of the tournament.
In a statement to the USTA, Tiley expressed his excitement about taking on the new role: “It is a true honor to assume the position of CEO of the USTA later this year.” He added that he has always admired the organization’s leadership in promoting the sport in the U.S. and the extraordinary success of the US Open, describing his appointment as a “full circle moment,” having begun his American journey as a NCAA coach.
Tiley will begin his new duties in the coming months, while working in collaboration with the Tennis Australia board to ensure a smooth transition. He succeeds Lew Sherr, who left the USTA last year to join the New York Mets of Major League Baseball.
The USTA is not only changing leadership; it is defining an ambitious mandate focused on growing participation in the sport. The goal is to reach 35 million players by 2035, a target based on a record growth of 27.3 million players in 2025. This increase represents six consecutive years of growth and an impressive 54% rise since 2019.
Brian Vahaly, president of the USTA and interim Co-CEO, emphasized that the search for a new leader focused on “identifying the right person to accelerate participation growth and help us achieve our goal of 35 million players by 2035.” Vahaly praised Tiley, stating that he possesses “a rare combination of global credibility at the highest level of the sport and a proven commitment to growing tennis at the grassroots level.”
Tiley, in turn, did not hide his passion for the sport: “Tennis has shaped my life — both personally and professionally. Having started my tennis journey in the U.S. as an NCAA champion coach, this opportunity feels like a full-circle moment. I am excited to return to American tennis and work alongside our local and national leadership to continue expanding the reach, impact, and future of the sport.”
The US Open remains a central pillar in the USTA’s strategy, serving as a commercial engine and platform to drive participation. Tiley’s experience in aligning elite events with grassroots growth is expected to shape this approach.
Tiley’s career is not just about titles; he has an impressive track record of growth and innovation. As the head coach of the University of Illinois men’s tennis team from 1994 to 2005, he led the team to win an NCAA national championship in 2003, with a perfect season of 32-0, and was named Coach of the Year on two occasions. Since becoming CEO of Tennis Australia in 2013, Tiley has overseen continuous growth in participation. Over the past five years, overall participation in Australia has increased by 30%, coach membership has grown by 44%, and the representation of female coaches has risen by 60%, now making up one-third of the coaching workforce.
Tiley has consistently positioned tennis as a global sport with long-term digital potential. He states: “Tennis is one of the few truly global sports that can be played for life, at any level, and that’s part of its magic. It has an incredible ability to bring people together — players, fans, communities — from different countries and cultures. I firmly believe that the opportunity ahead for our sport is enormous.” He added that tennis is “moving from engaging millions who attend live events to connecting with billions of fans around the world digitally, year-round,” pointing to broader commercial and technological ambitions.
Tiley’s arrival at the USTA comes at a time of strong internal growth, but also in a landscape of fierce competition for attention in the U.S. sports market. The challenge now will be to translate his Australian success into sustained expansion and long-term stability for American tennis. With Tiley at the helm, the future of tennis in the United States looks promising, and sports enthusiasts are eagerly awaiting the changes to come.
Discover more from Apito Final
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
