The United States Tennis Association (USTA) has officially appointed Craig Tiley as its next Chief Executive Officer. Tiley, a veteran executive who has led Tennis Australia since 2013 and served as the Australian Open tournament director since 2006, transitions to the U.S. governing body during a period of significant structural shifts in global professional tennis.
Tiley’s appointment follows a search process led by Elevate and a USTA board committee. He succeeds former CEO Lew Sherr, who departed last year for a role with the New York Mets. Under Tiley’s leadership, the USTA aims to reach 35 million players by 2035 while managing a massive $800 million renovation of the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in New York.
Key Challenges and Opportunities
- Legal Landscape: Tiley brings unique experience in handling labor disputes. While at Tennis Australia, he oversaw a settlement with the Professional Tennis Players Association (PTPA) regarding antitrust litigation—a case the USTA has historically fought to dismiss.
- Financial Growth: The USTA reported a record $623.8 million in revenue for fiscal 2024, with roughly 90% generated by the U.S. Open.
- Grassroots Development: A former NCAA-winning coach at the University of Illinois, Tiley is expected to balance the commercial success of the U.S. Open with the mission of growing amateur tennis participation across the country.
Tiley officially takes the reins from interim co-CEOs Brian Vahaly and Andrea Hirsch, signaling a new era for American tennis governance.