Craig Tiley is swapping the Australian summer for a U.S. headline role, and tennis fans already have questions.
The long-serving Australian Open tournament director confirmed he will leave Tennis Australia to become Chief Executive Officer of the United States Tennis Association, a move that rearranges leadership at both national bodies and starts a formal succession process.
Tiley To Lead The USTA
The announcement from both Tennis Australia and the USTA confirms Tiley will move to the United States later this year to take the CEO role at the USTA, after a tenure that included steering the Australian Open as tournament director since 2006.
Tiley has been Tennis Australia CEO since 2013 and the Australian Open’s long-time tournament director, roles that transformed the event and raised the organization’s profile on the global tennis calendar, according to the official statements released by both bodies.
Tennis Australia said he will remain in his current roles while the board and executive team appoint his successor over the coming months, allowing a managed handover as both organizations prepare for the leadership change and next season’s calendars.
Tiley underlined the strength of the sport in his own remarks, saying, “The sport in Australia is in excellent shape,” and pointing to a strong group of players and a world-class team developing the next generation of talent and coaches.
He also highlighted participation growth at home, noting tennis remains hugely popular and that participation was up 8 per cent last year, a statistic Tennis Australia used to illustrate the sport’s health across community and elite pathways.
How The USTA Framed The Move
The USTA framed Tiley’s appointment as a major recruitment win and a way to accelerate growth plans, highlighting the organization’s purpose-driven mission to grow tennis and its aim to reach far more players in the United States.
In its announcement the USTA pointed to recent expansion in American tennis participation, reporting figures that underline strong momentum as it prepares to bring Tiley on board to help steer national strategy and major events.
The USTA says tennis participation rose to 27.3 million players in 2025, that the sport has grown 54 percent since 2019 adding nearly 10 million players, and that it is pursuing a goal to reach 35 million players by 2035.
“I am truly honored to step into the role of CEO of the USTA later this year,”
Craig Tiley
In the USTA release Tiley reflected on his personal connection to American tennis, saying he began his tennis journey in the U.S. as an NCAA championship coach and that the opportunity to return feels like a full-circle moment for his career and commitments.
What Comes Next
Tennis Australia has confirmed an internal process to appoint Tiley’s successor, and said he will stay in place to ensure continuity while the organization selects a new leader to run the Australian Open and nationwide programs launching next season.
For the USTA, Tiley brings deep event experience and a reputation for integrating player development with major-event delivery; for Australia his departure raises questions about continuity at the Open and in talent pathways that leaned on his leadership.
Tiley’s move reunites him with American tennis circles after years overseas and underlines the global market for experienced tournament directors and executives who can run Grand Slams and build participation programs at scale.
Both organizations said more details about timing and transition will be provided in the coming weeks, and that the search for a successor in Australia will be a priority as the calendar turns toward another Australian Open season.
History matters here: Tiley’s stewardship of the Australian Open since 2006 and his decade-plus as Tennis Australia CEO shaped both the tournament’s modern production and national development programs, and his departure marks a clear pivot in that story.
Expect more statements and analysis as the formal handover proceeds and as the USTA sets its agenda for how Tiley will help realize its participation targets and event ambitions in the years ahead.
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Christoph Friedrich is a German tennis player and coach currently residing in Oakland, California. He began his tennis journey at the age of eight and has since dedicated his life to the sport. After working as a tennis coach and hitting partner in New York City for eight years, Christoph decided to share his knowledge and experience with tennis players around the world by creating the My Tennis Expert blog. His goal is to make tennis education accessible to everyone and help players select the best equipment for their game, from racquets and strings to shoes and overgrips. Christoph's extensive research and expertise in tennis technology make him a valuable resource for players of all levels.
