Craig Tiley, the longtime chief of Tennis Australia and tournament director of the Australian Open, has been named the new chief executive of the United States Tennis Association. The 64-year-old South African will assume the role later this year, replacing Lew Sherr and returning to the US where he once coached college tennis. Tiley's move comes amid ongoing transformations in professional tennis governance and player relations.
Craig Tiley's appointment as CEO of the United States Tennis Association (USTA) was announced on February 25, 2026, marking the end of his 13-year tenure as chief executive of Tennis Australia and 20 years as director of the Australian Open. Tiley, who guided the Grand Slam event to record attendances and revenues, expressed honor in taking the role, calling it a "full-circle moment" after beginning his tennis career in the US as head coach of the University of Illinois men's team from 1994 to 2005, including an NCAA championship in 2003.
Under Tiley's leadership, the Australian Open expanded to a 15-day event, introduced innovations like electronic line calling in 2021, and added entertainment features such as the 'One Point Slam' mixed pro-am and a pre-tournament fan festival. This year's tournament drew 1.37 million fans, a 12 percent increase from 2025, and achieved 108.3 million hours of domestic TV viewership, up 22 percent year-over-year. Tiley highlighted Tennis Australia's global recognition as the "player's partner" and noted strong growth in participation.
The USTA role involves overseeing an $800 million transformation of the US Open site at Flushing Meadows, including renovations to Arthur Ashe Stadium and a new $250 million player performance center set for completion in 2027. Tiley will help advance the federation's goal of reaching 35 million players by 2035. His departure follows a settlement with the Professional Tennis Players Association (PTPA), which dropped Tennis Australia from an antitrust lawsuit against the Grand Slams after agreeing to share financial information, heightening tensions with other tournaments.
Tiley remains committed to a smooth transition at Tennis Australia, assisting in appointing a successor and executing plans for the Australian Open's growth. He affirmed the event's enduring status as the "Happy Slam," stating, "The Australian Open will be even bigger and better. I'm 100 per cent confident." Rod Laver praised Tiley's legacy on X, saying, "Congratulations Craig Tiley, you've accomplished so much in 20 years in Australia... It's incredible to see the changes every year."
Tiley emphasized the need for better alignment in global tennis, noting challenges like the packed calendar and player revenues, but expressed optimism for collaborative improvements.
