“Withdrawal from the Australian Open after bombshell announcement from the USTA.”

A tremendous shake-up in the world of tennis is being confirmed with the recent appointment of Craig Tiley as the new CEO of the United States Tennis Association (USTA). This significant change marks Tiley’s departure from his long-held position at Tennis Australia, where he has served as CEO since 2013 and as director of the Australian Open since 2006.

Tiley, a South African who began his career as the head coach of the University of Illinois tennis team from 1993 to 2005, will assume his new role at the USTA in 2026. In his own words, Tiley expressed deep pride and enthusiasm for this new chapter: “I am truly honored to take on the role of CEO of the USTA later this year. I have always admired the organization’s leadership in expanding the game across the United States and the extraordinary success of the US Open.”

The impact of this appointment is not merely symbolic; Tiley firmly believes in the potential of tennis as one of the few truly global sports that can be played throughout life and at any level. “Tennis has an incredible ability to bring people together – players, fans, communities – from different countries and cultures. I believe the opportunity ahead for our sport is immense,” Tiley stated, emphasizing the importance of connecting millions of fans digitally, in addition to engaging in live events.

Brian Vahaly, president and co-CEO of USTA, also commented on Tiley’s selection, stating: “From the beginning of this process, our priority has been to identify the right leader to accelerate participation growth and help us achieve our goal of 35 million players by 2035. Craig brings a rare combination of global credibility and a proven commitment to developing the game at the grassroots level. This balance is exactly what this moment demands.”

With an impressive track record of participation growth over the past six years, USTA is eager to leverage this new phase under Tiley’s leadership. According to Vahaly, “We are excited to build on our current momentum and confident that he is the right leader to guide American tennis into its next chapter.”

Tiley, who had already been the subject of speculation regarding his departure during the 2026 Australian Open, confirmed that discussions about his transition are not new. In an interview with We Are Tennis, he remarked: “This is not something new; this conversation has happened before. I decided not to fuel speculation and focus on what is important, which is the performance of the players and the enjoyment of the fans.”

The impact of Tiley’s appointment at USTA promises not only to transform the future of tennis in the United States but also to provide a new vision of how the sport can evolve globally, connecting more and more people who are passionate about the game.