Long-time Australian Open boss Craig Tiley is nearing a deal to take on the most senior leadership position in US tennis, according to a report by sports business platform Sportico, which was published on Saturday.
Tiley, who also serves as the chief executive of Tennis Australia (TA), is one of the nation’s highest-profile sporting administrators and commands substantial influence among world tennis decision-makers.
The Sportico report confirms that, after a two-decade tenure overseeing the Australian Open, Tiley is in advanced talks to lead US tennis.
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Australian Open tournament director Craig Tiley. Getty
He is slated to become the new CEO of the United States Tennis Association (USTA) and the US Open, concluding a months-long selection process.
The Sportico report noted that the individuals who confirmed Tiley as the USTA’s choice were granted anonymity, as the specifics of the process remain private.
The USTA has been under interim leadership since former CEO Lew Sherr departed at the end of June.
The governing body is currently being run by two co-CEOs: board chairman Brian Vahaly and COO Andrea Hirsch.
Watch all the Australian Open action live on Nine, 9Now and Stan Sport from Sunday, January 18.
South African-born Tiley first joined TA as director of tennis in 2005 before securing the role to run the Australian Open for the 2006 event.
He expanded his influence significantly when he became the TA chief executive in 2013.
Under Tiley’s leadership, TA’s financial strength is evident: the national governing body recorded about $590.5 million in revenue for the 2024 financial year, according to its most recent annual report.
Novak Djokovic ans Tennis Australia CEO Craig Tiley. AP
The USTA mirrors TA’s operational structure in that both organisations derive a massive portion of their annual revenue from running one of the sport’s four grand slams.
The USTA owns and operates the US Open in New York City.
“While we do not have any news to share at this time, we are confident that our next CEO will continue to build on the USTA’s long-standing commitment to growing the game of tennis in communities across the United States and elevating the US Open as the biggest stage for our sport,” the USTA said in a statement.
In November, the USTA named Eric Butorac as the next US Open tournament director.
Should Tiley confirm his departure from TA, it is unclear if he would still oversee the imminent Australian Open, which begins on January 18.