In February, Craig Tiley announced that he would be stepping down as CEO of Tennis Australia.
By doing so, Tiley will end his 13-year tenure at Australia’s premier tennis organisation.
The South African will assume his responsibilities at USTA later this year after helping Tennis Australia secure a smooth transition of leadership.
Almost two months after the news broke, Tiley has explained the reasons behind his switch from Australian tennis to American tennis.
Craig Tiley sees a ‘massive opportunity’ in US tennis
“It started way back when Brian [Vahaly] was a junior player, I was at the University of Illinois,” Tiley said while speaking to Andy Roddick on the Served Podcast.
“I was trying to get the best junior players to come to Illinois, and it didn’t really happen because we weren’t very good, and he kind of blew me up during the recruitment process, so I promised one day I’d get him back, and here we are!
“Why, there’s a couple things. One, I just see a massive opportunity in US tennis right now.
“There’s a long-term vision, there hasn’t been that, ever, I think we’re in a great position, the game is growing.
“I saw tremendous upside, there’s a way that the US can lead the world in participation, getting people to play the game, getting people to perform well in the game.
“I’ve been very lucky, the years I had at Tennis Australia, I think I had every possible job under the sun, and it has been magnificent, it just came that time where everything aligned and I went for it.”
“I’ve long admired the organisation’s leadership in growing the game across the United States and the extraordinary success of the US Open.
“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.”
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Tiley has replaced former USTA chief Lew Sherr, who stepped down from the position to join Major League Baseball’s New York Mets as the team’s president of business operations.
Tiley ‘admires’ the USTA’s leadership
In an announcement on the USTA website in February, Tiley described his admiration for the USTA and their ability to unite communities.
“I am truly honored to step into the role of CEO of the USTA later this year,” he said. “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.
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“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,” Tiley continued.
“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.”
