The U.S. Tennis Association has appointed Craig Tiley, longtime chief executive of Tennis Australia and tournament director of the Australian Open, as its new CEO. Tiley will start later this year on a long-term contract, replacing Lew Sherr who left for the New York Mets. The move comes amid efforts to grow tennis participation in the United States to 35 million players by 2035.
Craig Tiley, a South African native who coached the University of Illinois men's tennis team from 1994 to 2005—including an NCAA championship in 2003 with a 32-0 record—has been named the new chief executive of the U.S. Tennis Association (USTA). He has served as Australian Open tournament director since 2006 and Tennis Australia CEO since 2013, during which time the event expanded to 15 days and set attendance and revenue records.
Tiley replaces Lew Sherr, who departed the USTA last year to become president of business operations for the New York Mets. He had held the CEO role since 2022. Tiley will work alongside Eric Butorac, the incoming U.S. Open tournament director who succeeded Stacey Allaster last fall. The USTA, which operates the U.S. Open, reported record revenue of $623.8 million in fiscal 2024, with about 90% from the tournament, generating an operating profit of approximately $277.4 million.
USTA Board Chair and interim co-CEO Brian Vahaly praised Tiley's appointment, stating, “Craig brings a rare combination of global credibility at the highest level of the sport and a proven commitment to growing the game at the grassroots. That balance is exactly what this moment requires.” Tiley, who began his tennis journey in the U.S., expressed enthusiasm: “I am truly honored to step into the role of CEO of the USTA later this year. ... 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.”
Tiley will remain in his current roles for the coming months to support Tennis Australia's transition. Under his leadership, Tennis Australia settled with the Professional Tennis Players’ Association in an antitrust lawsuit, differing from the other Grand Slams. The USTA is undertaking an $800 million renovation of Arthur Ashe Stadium, including a $250 million player performance center. Tiley's innovations at the Australian Open, such as proposals for best-of-five sets for women from the quarterfinals and removing the umpire’s chair, highlight his focus on evolving the sport.
