Craig Tiley explains his decision to move from the Australian Open to the US Open
Back in February, Craig Tiley made it official that he would be stepping down from his role as CEO of Tennis Australia. This decision will bring an end to his 13 years leading the organisation.
Photo by William WEST / AFP via Getty Images Back in February, Craig Tiley made it official that he would be stepping down from his role as CEO of Tennis Australia. This decision will bring an end to his 13 years leading the organisation. The South African is set to take up his new post at the USTA later this year, but before he does, he’s working to ensure a smooth transition for Tennis Australia.
Nearly two months after the announcement, Tiley has now opened up about why he decided to make the move from Australian tennis to American tennis. Craig Tiley sees a ‘massive opportunity’ in US tennis Photo by William WEST / AFP via Getty Images “It started way back when Brian [Vahaly] was a junior player, I was at the University of Illinois,” Tiley said while speaking to Andy Roddick on the Served Podcast. “I was trying to get the best junior players to come to Illinois, and it didn’t really happen because we weren’t very good, and he kind of blew me up during the recruitment process, so I promised one day I’d get him back, and here we are!
“Why, there’s a couple things. One, I just see a massive opportunity in US tennis right now. “There’s a long-term vision, there hasn’t been that, ever, I think we’re in a great position, the game is growing.
“I saw tremendous upside; there’s a way that the US can lead the world in participation – getting people to play the game – getting people to perform well in the game. “I’ve been very lucky; the years I had at Tennis Australia – I think I had every possible job under the sun – and it has been magnificent. It just came that time where everything aligned and I went for it.