Craig Tiley leaves Australian Open to take US Open in new direction

[p]Tiley, who is also Tennis Australia chief executive, is to remain in his current roles for the coming months to ease the switch to new leadership.[/p][p]"[b]Leading this team has been the privilege of my life,[/b]" Tiley said in a statement.[/p][p]"[b]While I look forward to the challenge at the USTA, my immediate and total focus is clear: delivering a smooth transition and ensuring I leave the sport, the business and the team in the best possible shape.[/b]"[/p][p]Tiley, a South African who became Australian Open tournament director in 2006 and Tennis Australia chief executive in 2013, has accepted the post of USTA's chief executive.[/p][p]Tennis Australia director Chris Harrop said Tiley's tenure had been "[b]transformative[/b]".[/p][p]"Under Craig's leadership, participation and engagement with our sport has gone from strength to strength," Harrop said.[/p][p]"[b]We want to thank Craig for his enormous contribution to tennis in Australia and for his role in developing an outstanding team which is well-equipped to deliver continued success.[/b]"[/p][embed guid="32a14c45-f551-4c3d-8e87-b60657785f8f" url="https://x.com/WhateleySEN/status/2026790508660756526" social-type="twitter" /][p]Tennis Australia said it had started an internal and external search for a new chief executive and it looked forward to an "orderly transition".[/p][p]USTA chair Brian Vahaly said the body was looking for a leader to help it grow participation in the sport to 35 million players by 2035.[/p][p]"[b]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,[/b]" he said in a statement.[/p][p]"[b]That balance is exactly what this moment requires.[/b]"[/p]