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Tennis Australia Reaction To USTA Hiring Craig Tiley

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Tennis Australia today announced Chief Executive Officer Craig Tiley has accepted the position of Chief Executive Officer of the United States Tennis Association (USTA).

Tiley will remain in his current role over the coming months to help Tennis Australia appoint his successor and to support a smooth transition.

Commencing as Tennis Australia’s Director of Player Development in 2005, Tiley became Australian Open Tournament Director in 2006 and CEO in 2013. He has presided over a period of unprecedented growth for both the sport and the Australian Open. 

“Leading this team has been the privilege of my life. I am incredibly proud that Tennis Australia is now recognised globally as the player’s partner and the benchmark for the sport, events and entertainment,” Tiley said.

“The sport in Australia is in excellent shape. Tennis is one of the nation’s most popular sports, and participation is growing strongly – up eight per cent last year. We have a great group of players performing at the highest level and a world-class team developing the next generation of talented players and coaches.

“But my greatest thrill has been working with the many talented people throughout our entire team and indeed the Australian tennis family. It is a tight-knit community with so much passion, talent and commitment to the sport we all love.

“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.”

Tennis Australia Chair Chris Harrop said Tiley’s tenure has been transformative:

“Under Craig’s leadership, participation and engagement with our sport has gone from strength to strength. Tennis is very much front of mind for many Australians – from the Hot Shots program and social tennis through to club and competitive play, and the excitement of recent innovations like the One Point Slam.

“Tennis Australia is now globally renowned for its innovation, inclusiveness and event management, as showcased in an outstanding Summer of Tennis which culminated in a another record-breaking Australian Open this year.

“The fact that Craig has been selected for one of the biggest roles in global sport is a testament to the strength of our organisation,” Harrop said.

“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. We have commenced an internal and external search for a new CEO and look forward to an orderly transition.”

Tennis Australia has appointed international executive recruitment firm Egon Zehnder to lead the search for Tiley’s replacement.

Here’s The USTA’s Annual Post-U.S. Open Statistics Press Announcement

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As the 2025 US Open celebrated 75 years of Breaking Barriers, it also celebrated new champions and competition milestones, breaking records for attendance, viewership and digital reach, and engaging more people in tennis than ever before. Athletes received the largest player compensation in professional tennis history, and mixed doubles players competed for the first time in front of sold-out crowds as the reimagined Mixed Doubles Championship drove a two-day sellout in Arthur Ashe Stadium, with an additional 20,000 fans watching for free in Louis Armstrong Stadium.   The US Open became the most viewed tennis telecast of the year on ESPN and broke records with billions of digital interactions. Double digit growth in F&B and merchandise sales underscored fan enjoyment on the grounds over the three week tournament.   

“What we achieved together over these three incredible weeks is a reminder of the power of sport and the extraordinary potential still waiting to be unlocked in tennis. I’m deeply proud and profoundly grateful to everyone — our fans, players, partners, staff, volunteers and community leaders — who made this year’s tournament not just a celebration of tennis, but a force for good, bringing the benefits of the world’s healthiest sport to more people and places than ever before,” said Stacey Allaster, Chief Executive of Pro Tennis and US Open Tournament Director. “This year’s US Open truly embodied the spirit of ‘Spectacular,’ surpassing expectations and setting new records across the board — from fan engagement and player impact to partner success that inspired a love for tennis to grow the sport at the community level.”

Specific record-setting highlights from the 2025 US Open include:

Historic Champions and American Player On-Court Success

  • Carlos Alcaraz and Aryna Sabalenka each added to their growing legacies by winning the Men’s and Women’s Singles Championships. Alcaraz, at just 22, became the youngest men’s player in the Open Era to win six major singles titles. Sabalenka, meanwhile, became the first women’s player to win back-to-back US Open singles titles since Serena Williams won three in a row from 2012 to 2014.
  • Amanda Anisimova reached her second consecutive major singles final and extended the streak of American women to reach a Grand Slam singles final to five straight majors. Other notable American results included Taylor Townsend reaching the women’s doubles final for the second time in her career, as well as the women’s singles fourth round – a career-best Grand Slam singles performance, while Taylor Fritz followed up his run to the 2024 men’s singles final with an appearance in the quarterfinals. 
  • Mixed Doubles champions Sara Errani and Andrea Vavassori; Men’s Doubles champions Horacio Zeballos and Marcel Granollers and Women’s Doubles Champions Gabi Dabrowski and Erin Routliffe all took home $1 million as teams – record prize money for US Open doubles and mixed doubles champions.
  • This year’s Wheelchair Championships included 19-year-old Japanese wheelchair tennis star Tokito Oda winning his first US Open men’s singles title, completing the career “Golden Slam” and becoming the youngest wheelchair tennis player to accomplish the historic milestone. Elsewhere, Japan’s Yui Kamiji won her third women’s singles title, while Dutchman Niels Vink secured his second quad singles trophy. Doubles winners included: Gustavo Fernandez and Tokito Oda in the men’s, China’s Li Xiaohui and Wang Ziying in women’s, and Guy Sasson and Niels Vink in the quad division.
  • Long Island’s Jack Kennedy and Southern California’s Keaton Hance won the boys’ doubles title in an all-American matchup. In the junior wheelchair competition, Colorado’s Sabina Czauz swept the girls’ singles and doubles titles, becoming the first American to accomplish the feat since the junior wheelchair event was introduced in 2022.

Largest Player Compensation in Professional Tennis History

The USTA awarded the largest purse in professional tennis history at the 2025 US Open, making it the first tennis event to offer $90 million in total player compensation. This amount topped the total $75 million in 2024, the previous highest player compensation in tennis history, an increase of 20 percent.  Men’s and Women’s Singles Champions at the 2025 US Open each earned $5 million, up 39 percent from the $3.6 million in 2024, making it the largest winning payout in the sport.  For the first time ever, the winning teams from the Men’s Doubles, Women’s Doubles and Mixed Doubles Championships each earned $1 million in prize money. Men’s and Women’s Doubles purses also were significantly increased in an effort to support the players competing in these championships, up 23 percent to $4.78 million from $3.89 million in 2024.  The Men’s and Women’s Qualifying tournaments’ prize money was increased to a record $8 million, up 10 percent for this year.

Sellout Crowds for the Mixed Doubles Championship for the First Time

The US Open Mixed Doubles Championship presented by Vital Proteins drew 78,000 fans to the grounds over August 19 and 20, drove a two-day sellout in Arthur Ashe Stadium, and more than 20,000 fans scanned their Fan Access Pass to watch the matches for free in Louis Armstrong Stadium on Tuesday. The new mixed doubles format averaged 343,000 viewers across ESPN/ESPN2. The two-day championship brought mixed doubles competition to more fans than ever before, airing across 17 networks in over 170 countries and territories, with 325,000 fans watching on ESPN’s properties.

Groundbreaking Attendance and Fan Access Pass Signups 

The full, three-week attendance of 1,144,562 was a 9-percent increase over 2024. This is the second consecutive year the US Open surpassed one million attendees.  Main Draw singles and men’s and women’s doubles attendance – which included 27 sessions over 15 days and the first weekend start in the Open Era – eclipsed 900,000 for the first time, with 905,255 attendees – also a 9-percent increase over 2024. Fan Week attendance (239,307) was up 10 percent.

US Open Fan Week continued to grow in fan engagement, attendance and activations. This included a record 240,000 sign-ups for US Open Fan Access Pass, giving these individuals the opportunity to take part in a variety of activities throughout the week, and the entirety of the US Open. In addition, new offerings like the US Open Silent Disco and additional programming of the US Open Fan Week Main Stage, including on-site podcasts throughout the week, bolstered the experience for those in attendance.

Most Viewed Tennis Telecast of the Year for ESPN

ESPN’s coverage of the 2025 US Open delivered standout audiences across the tournament. The 15-day event is the most-viewed tennis telecast of the year, with the Men’s Championship the highest in a decade and ESPN’s second most-viewed on record, and double-digit growth throughout all rounds. 

The Men’s Championship averaged 3 million viewers on ABC, up 82 percent vs. 2024, while the Women’s Championship averaged 2.4 million on ESPN, up 50 percent vs. 2024. The quarterfinals drew their largest audience in 10 years, and early round coverage through the Round of 16 posted its best numbers since 2022. The new Sunday start also proved a success, driving ESPN’s most-viewed Day 1 of Main Draw coverage since 2022, with audiences up nearly 83 percent year over year.

More Fans Engaged on Digital Platforms and Gaming Media than Ever Before

The US Open’s digital platforms, powered by IBM, totaled nearly 47 million visits – a 19-percent increase over 2024 – from 14 million unique devices over the event’s three weeks.  The US Open’s official social media channels achieved 3.1 billion total interactions – surpassing the 3 billion mark for the first time and growing by 34 percent over 2024.

The US Open’s video game collaborations – featured on-site at the US Open’s Advantage Arena and playable worldwide during the event – saw record numbers of players. For example, Champions of the Court on Roblox engaged over six million new players – pushing its total player count to nearly 20 million since the US Open debuted in Roblox in 2023. Champions of the Court averaged over 740,000 players per day in-event. The US Open’s activations in Fortnite engaged more than five million new players this year, with an average play time of 37 minutes per player.  Tennis Clash saw over 8.4 million matches played during the US Open.

Record Growth in Food, Beverage and Merchandise Sales

Total food and beverage sales saw a 19 percent total increase over 2024, including an all-time high 738,459 US Open Honey Deuce signature cocktails sold, representing a 32 percent increase over 2024. US Open merchandise sales also increased 27 percent year over year.

The US Open as a Platform for Growing the Game at the Grassroots Level

The USTA Foundation’s annual Opening Night Gala raised over $2.6 million to help support the more than 300 community organizations that are part of the Foundation’s flagship National Junior Tennis and Learning (NJTL) network. Andre Agassi was honored at the event with the “Serving Up Dreams” award for his efforts to give back to young people through the Andre Agassi Foundation for Education to improve public schools and invest in communities. 

The Williams Family Excellence Program was launched by the USTA Foundation in partnership with the legendary family of Venus and Serena Williams. This transformative initiative will support young people from under-resourced communities with the academic support, career pathways, and mentorship opportunities to prepare them to live their best lives both on and off the court. With a goal of reaching more than 2,500 young people ages 13 to 25 annually by the year 2035, the program will focus on post-secondary education and career development, aiming to unlock doors that too often remain closed — using tennis as a powerful catalyst for change.

Additionally, the USTA engaged nearly 1,600 kids from more than 65 different community groups from across the country to participate in its Net Generation Kids on Court program, offering kids the opportunity to play in front of fans on main competition courts.

A number of adult groups also took part in pre-match on-court activities, showcasing Red Ball Tennis throughout the event. In addition, three adaptive groups, including wheelchair participants, showcased these formats of the sport in front of the US Open crowds. Nearly 100 kids participated in pre-match coin tosses, and a select handful participated in trophy ceremonies.

Additional important milestones realized during the 2025 US Open include:

  • Record Number of Celebrities and VIP Guests: The US Open hosted a record 600-plus celebrity and VIP guests this year and integrated its ‘Blue Carpet’ arrivals as live content produced for broadcast and social channels, as well as in-venue for Finals Fan Fest.  President Trump’s visit to the Men’s Singles Final made him only the second sitting president to attend the US Open following Bill Clinton in 2000.
  • Record Crowds for Finals Fan Fest and Afterparty: The US Open took its Finals Fan Fest and Afterparty to another level with a DJ set by Grammy-nominated electronic music leaders ODESZA and TOKiMONSTA – with a crowd of almost 10,000 on the day of the women’s singles final.
  • Sponsorship Growth and Longevity: The 2025 US Open had 28 official tournament sponsors, seven of which have been US Open partners for more than 30 years. Four new partners in argenx, Clos du Bois, Dove and Vital Proteins, joined the US Open this year.
  • 75 years of Breaking the Color Barrier: The 2025 theme “75 Years of Breaking Barriers,” recognized and honored the 75th anniversary of Althea Gibson’s breaking of the sport’s color barrier at the 1950 U.S. National Championships. Illuminating this year’s theme was deeply powerful and dynamic theme art – a layered, silhouette profile of Gibson, incorporating iconic symbols emblematic of the US Open – created by Melissa Koby, the first Black theme artist in US Open history. Throughout the event, the USTA celebrated Althea Gibson’s legacy, including through on-site activations, in-stadium digital signage, and a recognition of players that followed in her footsteps and also helped to change the face of the game forever.
  • 50th Anniversary of Chris Evert Winning her First US Open Title: The US Open celebrated the legacy of Chris Evert alongside the 50th anniversary of her first US Open title in 1975. She went on to win six US Open women’s singles titles and 18 Grand Slam singles titles overall as part of her Hall-of-Fame career. Evert, who currently serves as the chairperson of the USTA Foundation and as an ESPN commentator, was recognized throughout the tournament on both US Open and ESPN platforms. In addition, she presented the champion’s trophy during the trophy ceremony for the women’s singles final, which also included a video tribute to Evert shown in stadium and across broadcast
  • 20th Anniversary of Wheelchair Tennis: The US Open celebrated the 20th anniversary of its Wheelchair Championships this year. During the tournament, the USTA was honored by the ITF with its Brad Parks Award, in recognition of the organization’s outstanding leadership and long-term commitment to developing wheelchair tennis both nationally and globally.
  • Purpose Driven Platform Unites Fans and Players Through the Power of Tennis: For the sixth consecutive year, the tournament’s purpose-driven platform “Be Open” united fans and players through the power of tennis. It engaged communities to celebrate and welcome more audiences into the sport. The platform included events, activations and panel discussions highlighting Asian American Pacific Islander culture; Latine roots; the culture, history and pride of Historically Black Colleges and Universities, via HBCU Live; the LGBTQ+ community with the ‘Open Pride;’ and our military members via Lt. Joe Hunt Military Appreciation. The US Open also provided a platform for competitors from around the globe with ambulatory impairments through its Parastanding Invitational Tournament.  The US Open hosted its third annual Champions of Equality event, honoring award-winning director, producer and screenwriter Ava DuVernay with the Billie Jean King US Open Champions of Equality award alongside a group of the game’s foremost grassroots Champions of Equality leaders from 16 USTA Sections across the country. US Open Tournament Director Stacey Allaster was honored with a Champions of Equality award in recognition of her decades of service to women’s tennis. During the event, DuVernay was joined by seven-time Grand Slam singles champion Venus Williams for a panel discussion that was moderated by 2024 Champions of Equality honoree Shonda Rhimes.

USTA Launches National Tennis Coaching Platform “USTA Coaching”

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The United States Tennis Association (USTA) officially launched, via a public relations firm Coyne PR, USTA Coaching, Inc., a new entity established to elevate and support the coaching community nationwide. USTA Coaching offers a comprehensive, inclusive and scalable solution to support every type of coach, from parents looking to introduce tennis to their children to full-time professionals. This first-of-its-kind national platform is designed to transform the tennis coaching experience through a modern holistic approach–offering certification, flexible training through a robust online learning hub, community-building opportunities and a wide range of exclusive benefits that support coaches at every level.

“USTA Coaching is based on a simple truth: Better coaches create better play experiences, and better play experiences grow the game,” said Craig Morris, chief executive officer of USTA Coaching. “We saw a need to unify the coaching experience, from tennis-seeking parents to full-time pros, and built a platform that makes coaching more accessible, more rewarding and more impactful. It’s also about developing the next generation of coaches and ensuring that players see themselves reflected in the sport. This is about creating better experiences for coaches so they can create better experiences for players.”

USTA Coaching education is rooted in a coach- and athlete-centered approach shaped by the USTA American Development Model (ADM), a framework built on the United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee’s (USOPC) ADM principles and grounded in the latest sport science and athlete development research. This connection to the USOPC underscores USTA Coaching’s commitment to quality, inclusivity, and long-term player growth. Participants gain access to resources, services and benefits such as liability insurance, telehealth, equipment discounts, coaching tools and a dynamic peer community. With support for every stage and skill level, USTA Coaching delivers the structure, confidence and connection today’s coaches need to lead both on and off the court.

“The USTA is a strong National Governing Body, a great partner to the USOPC and an important part of Team USA,” said USOPC CEO Sarah Hirshland. “It’s no surprise that they are leading in coaching innovation, building on a history of success and giving the current and future generations new opportunities to learn and achieve with the launch of USTA Coaching.”

The launch of USTA Coaching marks a strategic investment in the future of tennis and serves as a cornerstone of the USTA’s growth strategy to reach 35×35 (35 million players by 2035), making the U.S. a leading tennis-playing nation (by population) in the world–increasing the number of Americans playing the world’s healthiest sport to 10 percent of the population, while deepening positive impact in communities nationwide. As participation surges nationwide, the sport faces a growing need for coaches, and USTA Coaching aims to fill that need with a scalable national solution. Currently, only 2 in 10 players receive formal coaching, a gap that USTA Coaching intends to close.

More than just a platform, USTA Coaching is a workforce development initiative designed to modernize the coaching ecosystem, streamline access to training, and expand the reach of who can provide quality coaching. Recognizing that growth depends on more than certified professionals, USTA Coaching empowers parents, teachers, volunteers and community leaders, those most often introducing newcomers to the game, with the tools and support they need to succeed. By creating an inclusive coaching pathway and unifying resources under one platform, USTA Coaching is positioned to accelerate participation, strengthen local tennis communities and ensure that growth is backed by a diverse, well-equipped coaching network.

The USTA is also equipping coaches with the tools to recognize and prevent misconduct in the sport. Regardless of whether a coach chooses the Rally, Pro or Pro Plus tier of benefits, they will complete the Safe Play program—making a vital commitment to creating a secure and respectful environment for every athlete. By completing the required SafeSport Training along with a criminal background screen, the USTA covering the cost of both, coaches reinforce their professional integrity to their tennis community.

“As someone who’s been both a competitive player and a coach at the highest levels, I’ve seen firsthand the impact a great coach can have, not just on a player’s skills, but on their long-term love for the sport,” said Megan Rose, managing director, head of business development and operations for USTA Coaching. “Coaches are often the first point of access to tennis, especially for kids and new players. With USTA Coaching, our goal is to lower the barrier to entry and make it easy for anyone to step into a coaching role with confidence. By providing accessible tools, flexible learning and real-time support, we’re empowering more people to lead and helping grow the game in every community.”

Coaches at Every Level. Support at Every Stage.
At every level of the game, coaches make the difference. USTA Coaching is designed to meet them wherever they are, whether they’re picking up a racquet for the first time or leading athletes at the highest levels. With hands-on learning, professional-grade tools and access to a range of tiered benefit packages, USTA Coaching helps every coach grow their skills, deepen their impact and stay inspired. While a short online quiz can help coaches find the package that best fits their needs, all packages are optional and flexible, so coaches can choose the level of support that is right for them, no matter their role or experience.

Baseline Package:
Many people become coaches not by planning to, but by stepping up, whether it is helping at practice, leading a gym class, or supporting their child’s first time on court. USTA Coaching makes that first step easier with free access to the Baseline package, which includes local event access and beginner-friendly drills and plans delivered to their inbox. For tennis parents, saying “yes” is about more than showing up, it is about passing down values, sharing milestones and building a lifelong bond through the game.

Rally Package:
USTA Coaching’s Rally package supports high school coaches and community instructors who juggle teaching with premium educational content, peer mentorship, Coach Developer office hours, Safe Play training, and tools like TennisDrills.TV. From leading pre-season tryouts to managing post-match pep talks, Rally offers the structure and support they need to lead with confidence.

Pro and Pro Plus Packages:
For those part-time and full-time professionals building reputations in clubs, academies, parks and recreation programs and public facilities, the Pro and Pro Plus packages offer advanced support. That includes national certifications, continuing education, discounts on tech and gear, and insurance coverage built for coaches who lead every day. Pro Plus adds unlimited additionally insured facilities, accident insurance and telehealth, because when coaching is your livelihood, peace of mind matters.

“As a former Grand Slam champion and coach, I’ve seen how the right guidance changes everything,” said Lindsay Davenport, Olympic gold medalist and USTA Coaching ambassador. “USTA Coaching is here to champion every coach, whether you’re leading a lesson or cheering from the sidelines. This platform is going to change how coaches connect with players and how players connect with the game.”

Learn More
To explore your coaching pathway or join the platform, visit USTACoaching.com. A short quiz will help determine your starting point, and participants can begin accessing their Rally, Pro or Pro Plus benefits immediately after completion of their Safe Play training. Additional features, including the online learning hub and certification equivalency program, will launch in Q4 2025.

About USTA Coaching
USTA Coaching is a new entity established by the USTA with a national platform created to support, elevate and expand the tennis coaching community across the United States. The platform offers tiered benefits for coaches at every level – from professional instructors and high school coaches to parents, teachers and volunteers. With a modern approach to certification, flexible education pathways and access to exclusive tools and benefits, USTA Coaching is redefining who gets to lead on the court. By empowering more people to coach, USTA Coaching ensures that as demand for tennis grows, so does the community of skilled, diverse and well-equipped leaders guiding the game forward. To learn more visit USTACoaching.com.

Front view of tennis coach teaching young man the position of racket at forehand

Karue Sell Returns To California Pro Tennis At SoCal Pro Series

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By Damian Secore

Just over 21 months and counting into his return to professional tennis, Karue Sell can say, unequivocally, that his comeback has exceeded his expectations. So much so that perhaps a term more fitting in his case, rather than comeback, is a ‘surgeahead.’

The Torrance resident and native of Jaragua do Sul, Brazil is taking a short break from the ATP Challenger Tour to enter his only SoCal Pro Series tournament of 2025 in this week’s $15,000 ITF World Tennis Tour/USTA Pro Circuit event at Lakewood Tennis Center.

At his current ATP ranking of No. 284 (as of June 16), six-time ITF singles champion Sell is the highest-ranked player to play in this year’s SoCal Pro Series. It’s been a wild ride back on the pro tennis circuit since Sell, 31, jumpstarted his career in September 2023 after nearly a four-year hiatus.

He was ranked as high as No. 371 in the ATP’s world rankings in July 2018 but stopped playing pro tennis in October 2019, after a first-round defeat in a $25,000 Futures event in Claremont, because he could no longer afford to fund his career’s travel demands and expenses. His ranking plummeted to No. 967 by the end of that year. Through inactivity, his ranking dropped to No. 1,425 at the end of 2021.

The decision to tour in tennis again was mostly born out of his own curiosity as his life was about to flip the page into a new decade.

“It wasn’t really anything planned. I figured maybe I’ll try to get an ATP point,” Sell said. “I was thinking, ‘I’m turning 30 and maybe it’s my last shot to play good tennis.’ That finality of it being the last time to play as an athlete, and all. I wanted to see if I could break my career-high (ATP) ranking.”

Sell looks the part of a wise sage now as he currently sports an ATP ranking 26 spots short of his career-high No. 258 ranking achieved in November. He won two $25,000 Futures events last year and racked up significant ranking points during a five-week stretch in August-September where he bookended a $25,000 Futures title in his native Brazil with semifinal berths in Challenger Tour events in Bogota, Colombia and Las Vegas.

He began his competitive comeback with a quarterfinal appearance in a $15,000 Futures tournament in Tunisia. In his second tournament back a month later (October 2023), he won a $15,000 event in Morelia, Mexico. That brought himself much validation and drive to carry on.

“I knew I was a better player in terms of understanding the game, certainly more than when I was on tour the first time or in college,” Sell said. “I wanted to challenge myself to play at the highest level that I can, hopefully playing a couple more ATP events and Grand Slams. You’re playing and gaining points and then it’s like, ‘Oh, this is real! You’re close to (qualifying for) a Grand Slam!’ I’m near that level. I do think it’s very doable.”

Sell arrives to Lakewood as the oldest player/one of the oldest players, if not the oldest, in the men’s singles draw. He also comes in as the No. 1 seed among a bracket littered with 20-something pros and much of Southern California’s best collegiate and teenage junior talent going.

Sell used to be that player in his first iteration as a tennis player aspiring to play on the sport’s highest stages.

As a junior, he played in the junior championships at the US Open, Australian Open and French Open. As a collegian, he played during a glory period (2013-16) for the UCLA men’s tennis program that was a 2013 NCAA Division I Tournament runner-up and 2014 NCAA semifinalist while playing alongside future ATP Tour teammates Marcos Giron (ATP No. 43 ranking), Mackie McDonald (ATP No. 98) and Maxime Cressy. Within three years of graduating from UCLA, Sell collected three ITF Futures singles and doubles titles apiece.

In spite of past accomplishments, he is confident about who would win today’s hypothetical match between the Karue Sell of past and present.

“I would hope that today’s Karue wins,” Sell said. “I’m just a more complete player. I understand this game now. I feel, physically, at my best.”

While he believes he’s a fitter player now, the only attributes Sell wishes he still carried from his past are that natural youthful athleticism and faster physical recoveries from aches and pains.

It partially helps to explain why Sell is playing the SoCal Pro Series in Lakewood for the second consecutive year. He injured his right shoulder following a Challenger event in Chile in March, took three weeks off for recovery, and in his first event back, he tore a muscle in his right calf in a first-round defeat at an April Challenger tournament in Sarasota, Fla. that sidelined him for another five weeks.

Sell, who reached the Lakewood semifinals last year five weeks after dropping a three-set final to Learner Tien in the 2024 SoCal Pro Series opener in San Diego, professes he is fully healthy this week.

He soon plans to jump back on the Challenger Tour’s moving train on a destination for, ideally, the top 200 in the ATP rankings and gaining those qualifying opportunities at ATP tournaments and Grand Slams.

Said Sell: “I’m playing Lakewood because it’s near home. I just came back from a four-week trip. It’s been a tough year; a couple of injuries, a couple of tough losses. I feel I need some training. I feel I lost a bit of my rhythm. I want to get in as many matches as I can.

“On the Challenger Tour, all it takes is one great week. If you can put together a title, a final, it can really change your life. It puts a little pressure on me, but it’s fun. I want to ride this out as long as I can. I’ll definitely play next year as well, then I’ll reassess. I feel like I’m not slowing down. I feel like my game is improving. Physically, it’s a matter of whether I can hold up.”

Sell’s layoff allowed him time at home to get other aspects of his personal life in order and develop a more substantial business plan to sustain himself in tennis. He never lost the passion to play, but the time away did enable him to cultivate a romance much more influential and rewarding in his life for the long term.

Sell got married to the love of his life, Sarah, in July 2024, two weeks after playing the Lakewood event. His wife does not come from a tennis circle but from a competitive sporting background which allows her to relate to what Sell goes through, emotionally and mentally, as an athlete.

He says marriage and having such a solid foundation in his personal life has given him a renewed sense of perspective and maturity which helps keep his tennis in its proper place in his 30-something life and keep that fun pressure of competing in tennis from consuming him.

Sarah doesn’t travel with Karue full-time, and the two have a fairly steadfast rule that Karue will not play more than three tournaments in a row away from their Torrance home. Karue is trying to keep to a schedule that is more domestic within North America and less international.

Sarah did join Karue for his two biggest events abroad this year, when he played in qualifying at the ATP 500 tournament in Rio de Janeiro in February and when he made the main draw for an ATP 250 event a month ago in Geneva, Switzerland.

“It’s already chaotic to be a professional tennis player. For me, she’s super supportive,” Sell said. “She helps me work through a mental breakdown. She was a competitive skier so she understands the ups and downs, the mental aspect of it. And if there are times when I might get a little soft, she can kick me in the (butt) when I need it.

“As much as I enjoy playing tennis, it’s really not the most important part of my life in the way that it used to be. Knowing things are good at home, that’s really big. She’s a big part of why I’ve succeeded more than I’ve expected. I think she’s liking tennis maybe more than she lets on.”

Sell dabbled in coaching and offering lessons locally in between his pro touring stints – during this time, Sell worked with Naomi Osaka during her ascension to becoming the world’s No. 1-ranked WTA player,and took brief volunteer assistant coaching positions at Pepperdine then UCLA – but he has mostly shelved that.

He still trains with Giron for fun from time to time when the ATP Tour pro returns home to Redondo Beach, and the former Bruins teammates got together for two hitting sessions in the past two weeks.

Often when playing Futures events, Sell travels with a camera and attempts to mount it to the back fence of the court he is playing on as a means of chronicling the 2.0 version of his tennis career. This is where his new-and-improved business model created during his layoff comes into play.

Sell turned to social media to start a vlog series entitled “Turning Pro at 30” on his YouTube channel (@Karue-Sell; 172,000 subscribers). Sell uses the series as a personal video diary of sorts to elaborate and provide insight on his journey back on the pro circuit. It is the type of content geared towards tennis junkies and young players who might benefit from listening to Sell’s sage words of wisdom.

Among the content on the site are his own personal reviews on past Futures and Challenger matches as well as a practice set he played last year with Rancho Santa Fe native and Los Angeles County resident Taylor Fritz, the world’s highest ranking American at No. 4.

His YouTube site also promotes a tennis-oriented app, MprooV, that former Bruins teammate Clay Thompson started. The pair collaborate on the app, with Thompson’s sponsorship of Sell helping him to fund most of his touring expenses.

Sell also has 25,000 followers on Instagram (@karuesell) and over 3,000 followers through his TikTok space (@karuesell_), but his YouTube channel is his bread and butter.

Said Sell: “I put most of my effort into YouTube. I like long-form content. With the channel, and the size that it is, I’m able to get some good sponsorships. You have multiple income revenues. It winds up being a decent salary. Putting out a lot of content, that’s really what pays the bills.”

Sell’s resurgence in professional tennis has paid personal dividends beyond what he could have imagined almost two years ago. He’s hoping a seventh ITF singles crown in Lakewood this week is another step towards reaching the ATP Tour stage in this second act of his career.

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Wake Forest’s Stefan Dostanic, Stanford’s Valerie Glozman Win USTA’s US Open Collegiate Wild Card Tournaments

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Stefan Dostanic and Valerie Glozman each secured a spot in the 2025 US Open singles main draw Wednesday night as they won the men’s and women’s singles titles, respectively, at the American Collegiate Wild Card Playoffs held at the USTA National Campus in Orlando.

The new event featured the top American collegiate tennis players competing across men’s and women’s singles and doubles with six wild cards into this summer’s US Open up for grabs.

Dostanic, a native of Irvine, Calif., capped off his college tennis career by leading the Wake Forest men’s tennis team to the NCAA title last month where was named the tournament’s Most Outstanding Player. In the last 12 months, he has won three ITF World Tennis Tour singles titles. He’ll be making his US Open and Grand Slam debut. Watch Dostanic’s match point and victory celebration here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S9s_I2dJMSg and watch his post-match interview with Randy Walker here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cw_czlC47TE

Glozman, a native of Bellevue, Wash., completed her freshman year at Stanford where she was named the ACC Freshman of the Year and earned All-American honors. A former top-ranked junior, she has competed in US Open qualifying each of the past three years. She’ll be making her Grand Slam main draw debut. Listen to her speak to Randy Walker after her win here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pr4x0H5HkNo&t=45s

Columbia’s Michael Zheng (Montville, N.J.) and Texas A&M’s Mary Stoiana (Southbury, Conn.), who were the singles finalists, will each receive a wild card entry into the US Open Qualifying Tournament.

USTA Celebrates Althea Gibson In 2025 U.S. Open Theme “75 Years of Breaking Barriers”

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The USTA has proudly unveiled its theme for the 2025 US Open, “Celebrating 75 Years of Breaking Barriers,” in honor of Althea Gibson breaking tennis’ color barrier at the 1950 U.S. National Championships. Illuminating this year’s theme is the deeply powerful and dynamic theme art – a layered, silhouette profile of Gibson, incorporating iconic symbols emblematic of the US Open – created by Melissa Koby, the first Black theme artist in US Open history.

“Celebrating 75 Years of Breaking Barriers” will commemorate Gibson, her legacy and the future generations of barrier breakers she inspired. The theme will be championed throughout the full three weeks of the 2025 US Open, which runs August 18-September 7. A centerpiece moment will be a tribute to Gibson inside Arthur Ashe Stadium on Sunday, August 24, the start of the Men’s and Women’s Singles Main Draws.

“The USTA and the US Open are incredibly proud and humbled to be able to celebrate Althea Gibson – a universal inspiration and one of our game’s foremost pioneers — on the 75th anniversary of her changing the game forever,” said Stacey Allaster, US Open Tournament Director and Chief Executive, Professional Tennis, USTA. “The character and the courage she displayed at the 1950 U.S. National Championships changed the course of history and created a legacy that helped make the US Open what it is today – truly ‘Open for All.’ On the 75th anniversary of that watershed moment, we celebrate Althea, the barriers she broke and the legacy she inspired.”

The theme art was created by combining and layering images of stencil- and laser-cut paper, resulting in a piece that evokes a natural emotion with its depth. The layered style is signature to Koby, a resident of Tampa, Fla., whose resume as an artist and illustrator includes an impressive list of high-profile brand collaborations.

“I wanted to create a piece that represents Althea as uniquely and beautifully as she deserves and also inspires a deep connection of representation with anyone who sees it,” Koby said. “Whether it be the layer of her playing tennis for an avid tennis-lover, or somebody who has ties to Arthur Ashe Stadium, or somebody who just loves really strong women in sports — I wanted to make sure that in having the honor and privilege of representing Althea for the US Open, I created a piece in which everyone can find a deep connection with her but also within themselves.”

Posters of the theme art are available for purchase via USOpen.org.

Tickets to All US Open Events Go On-Sale Friday, Including Blockbuster Mixed Doubles Championship

Tickets for all three weeks of events at the 2025 US Open go on sale to the general public at 9 a.m. Friday via Ticketmaster and USOpen.org, including:

  • US Open Mixed Doubles Championship, reimagined and elevated to be a must-attend championship competition featuring a blockbuster field of today’s top men’s and women’s stars competing together for a $1 million champions’ prize.
    Date: Tuesday, August 19 – Wednesday, August 20
     
  • Stars of the Open presented by Chase, a fan-favorite event featuring many of tennis’ biggest names alongside today’s hottest celebrities, returns as a Fan Week staple, with a portion of ticket proceeds benefitting the USTA Foundation.
    Date: Thursday, August 21

US Open Fan Week runs Monday, August 18 through Saturday, August 23, this year and once again features free grounds admission to the USTA Billie Jean National Tennis Center as the US Open Qualifying Tournament – 128 men’s and women’s singles players battling for the final 16 spots in each Main Draw – plays out on the field courts.

The US Open Men’s and Women’s Singles Main Draw begins Sunday, August 24 – the first weekend start to the US Open Singles Main Draws in the Open Era. The Women’s Singles Championship will be played on Saturday, September 6, with the Men’s Singles Championship taking place on Sunday, September 7.

USTA Unveils Reimagined Upgrades To Arthur Ashe Stadium and Billie Jean King National Tennis Center

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The USTA has unveiled its plans for the largest single investment in US Open history that will reimagine and modernize Arthur Ashe Stadium, create a new, state-of-the-art Player Performance Center and usher in a bold, visionary future of the US Open experience for fans, players and partners. This project is an $800 million investment in the US Open and the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center and is entirely self-funded by the USTA, with New York City continuing to benefit from more than $1.2 billion in annual economic impact due to the three weeks of the US Open. Combined with the US Open’s most recent transformation project, completed in 2018, the USTA has invested nearly $2 billion into the US Open and its home facility, without using any public, taxpayer or government funding. This project will take shape over three phases and be completed by the 2027 US Open, without interrupting play or fan access for the 2025-26 events.

“The US Open is the pinnacle of sports and entertainment, with the greatest athletes and fans in all of sport, and this reimagination of Arthur Ashe Stadium and construction of a state-of-the-art Player Performance Center will enhance the experience for everyone that comes on site to the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center,” said Lew Sherr, CEO and Executive Director, USTA. “This project enables us to maintain the greatest stage in tennis – Arthur Ashe Stadium – which was constructed more than 25 years ago, and modernize it in a way that will set it up for the next 25 years. It also provides us the opportunity to give the players that compete in that stadium an unparalleled space that will enable them to perform at their best and enjoy a higher level of luxury and comfort while they are off the court. The US Open helps us to deliver on our mission – growing tennis to build healthier people and communities everywhere – by showcasing our sport on the global stage, and this reimagination will bring this presentation to an entirely new level.”


Reimagined Arthur Ashe Stadium, Modernized and Enhanced at All Levels

The project will comprehensively enhance and modernize the US Open’s centerpiece, Arthur Ashe Stadium, elevating the experience for all fans inside tennis’ grandest stage. The enhancements include:

  • A brand-new, visually striking Grand Entrance befitting the grandest stage in all of tennis.
  • A 40-percent increase to the promenade-level concourse, adding significantly more open space for fans at the promenade and loge levels.
  • Completely modernized concourses, with all-newly designed retail experiences and food and beverage spaces.
  • Significantly increased access to restrooms on all concourses, and more escalators and elevators to all levels.
  • An upward extension of the courtside-level bowl with 2,000 new seats, expanding the courtside experience from 3,000 to 5,000 seats.
  • All-new club and restaurant areas, with enhanced dining options and premium hospitality spaces.
  • Two new dedicated luxury suite levels.

The spectator-facing elements of the Arthur Ashe Stadium reimagination will take place in advance of the 2026 and 2027 US Opens, with the full timeline specified later in this release.

State-of-the-Art, $250-Million Player Performance Center to Provide Unparalleled Support

Close to 2,800 players and members of their teams converge on the US Open each year to put on one of the greatest shows in sports. This reimagination will build them a new, $250 million home that provides today’s and tomorrow’s top athletes best-in-class amenities, with both indoor and outdoor performance and relaxation spaces to give them everything they need to maximize their on-court performance.

The two-story, state-of-the-art facility will be built on the top two floors of a four-floor building on the west side of Arthur Ashe Stadium, adjacent to the practice courts. It will include:

  • New and expanded indoor and outdoor fitness and warmup areas, featuring turf, track and US Open court surfaces for training.
  • Redesigned and expansive locker rooms and lounges, providing players a spa-like experience.
  • Upsized indoor player dining and an all-new outdoor player courtyard, as well as a new, dedicated cafe accessible only by players.
  • Dedicated player entranceway, welcoming the best athletes on the planet to the biggest stage in tennis.

The new Player Performance Center will be fully completed and accessible for players and teams by the 2027 US Open.

World-Class Architects and Designers Bringing the Best to the US Open

The lead architect of the overall reimagination project is ROSSETTI, the architect for the original construction of Arthur Ashe Stadium, as well as the expansive transformation project that was completed in 2018.

ROSSETTI, led by President and CEO Matt Rossetti, conceptualized and designed the Player Performance Center, having created player performance facilities for the Los Angeles Lakers, Green Bay Packers, Miami Dolphins and Jacksonville Jaguars.

To design the new Grand Entrance of Arthur Ashe Stadium, ROSSETTI worked with architect Daniel Libeskind – world-renowned as the master planner and architect for the reconstructed World Trade Center. For the concepts and design of Ashe’s new club and restaurant spaces, ROSSETTI worked with Garrett Singer, known for designing many of America’s trendiest restaurants and clubs.

No Interruptions to Play or Fan Access During Three-Phase Construction to be Completed by 2027 US Open

The reimagination project will take place over three phases and be completed by the 2027 US Open, without interruption to scheduled play or fan access for the 2025-26 events.

The timeline of construction is as follows:

Phase 1 (in advance of the 2025 US Open)

  • Structural work reinforcing the column load for Arthur Ashe Stadium, enabling for the in-stadium construction and overhaul to take place in future phases.
  • The first two stories of the four-story building that will be the Player Performance Center in what is now Parking Lot A. The first two stories of the structure will contain parking.
  • Mostly behind-the-scenes work, with no major changes noticeable to those attending the 2025 US Open.

Phase 2 (between the 2025-26 US Opens)

  • The existing courtside and suite levels in Arthur Ashe Stadium will be removed and replaced with the new, expanded courtside bowl and the two new, dedicated luxury suite levels.
  • The Player Performance Center – the top two floors of the four-floor facility in Parking Lot A – will be completed during this phase. While both levels of this facility will be constructed during this phase, it will not be finished and accessible to players until after Phase 3, as the interior will be completed during that time.

Phase 3 (between the 2026-27 US Opens)

  • The final projects in Arthur Ashe Stadium will be completed during this phase, including:
  • The visionary Grand Entrance, designed by Daniel Libeskind.
  • The new loge and promenade levels, including the new, expansive promenade concourse with an oversized, publicly accessible premium bar featuring expansive views of the Fountain Plaza and the Unisphere.
  • Full enhancements to all concourses, including retail and food and beverage spaces, as well as restrooms and other amenities.
  • Two new sets of escalators and two new elevator banks at the South entrance, improving fan traffic to all levels.
  • The series of Garrett Singer-designed premium hospitality lounges in-stadium, enabling premium ticket holders the opportunity to access unparalleled hospitality without having to leave Arthur Ashe Stadium for the first time.
  • The interior of the Player Performance Center will be completed during this phase and open to competitors and teams by the 2027 US Open.

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About the USTA
The USTA is the national governing body for the sport of tennis in the U.S. and the leader in promoting and developing the growth of tennis at every level — from local communities to the highest level of the professional game. A not-for-profit organization, it invests 100 percent of its proceeds in growing the game. It owns and operates the US Open, one of the highest-attended annual sporting events in the world, along with approximately 100 Pro Circuit events throughout the U.S., and selects the teams for Davis Cup, Billie Jean King Cup, and the Olympic and Paralympic Games. The USTA’s philanthropic entity, the USTA Foundation, provides grants and scholarships in addition to supporting tennis and education programs nationwide to benefit under-resourced youth through the National Junior Tennis & Learning (NJTL) network. For more information about the USTA, go to USTA.com or follow the official accounts on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter (X) and TikTok.

Iva Jovic, Emilio Nava Earn USTA’s French Open Main Draw Wild Cards

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American rising stars Iva Jovic and Emilio Nava have earned singles main draw wild cards into the upcoming French Open by winning the USTA’s Roland Garros Wild Card Challenge. The USTA and FFT have a reciprocal agreement in which main draw wild cards for the 2025 French Open and US Open are exchanged.

The 17-year-old Jovic finished the five-week Challenge with 142 points, earned by winning the USTA Pro Circuit W100 in Charlottesville, Va., (100 pts.) and reaching the second round at both the WTA 250 in Bogota (30 pts.) and the USTA Pro Circuit W100 in Bonita Springs, Fla. (12 pts.). Jovic’s point total was enough to outlast a final-week push by former Roland Garros girls’ singles champion Whitney Osuigwe, who could have won the Challenge on its final day by winning the Bonita Springs title.

The Torrance, Calif., native Jovic has now earned wild cards into the last three Grand Slam singles main draws, after winning the USTA Girls’ 18s national championship to enter the 2024 US Open and the USTA’s Australian Open Wild Card Playoff to get into the 2025 Australian Open. She reached the second round in both of those events.

Nava won the men’s Challenge with 119 points, thanks to his performance at consecutive USTA Pro Circuit ATP Challenger events, winning the title in Sarasota, Fla., (75 pts.) and reaching the final in Tallahassee, Fla., (44 pts.) amid a 19-match win streak.

Nava previously qualified for the French Open in 2023 and competed in the US Open main draw in 2022-23, pushing Casper Ruud to four sets in the first round after qualifying the latter year.

The Challenge was contested over the last five weeks, with each player’s top three points-earning results counting toward their final Challenge point total. Only clay-court events at the M25 and W35 level and above counted toward the Challenge.

Final Women’s Standings:
(Player’s current ranking in parentheses)

  1. Iva Jovic (120) — 142
  2. Whitney Osuigwe (158) — 121
  3. Julieta Pareja (328) — 116
  4. Caty McNally (283) — 102
  5. Varvara Lepchenko (119) — 85

Final Men’s Standings:
(Player’s current ranking in parentheses)

  1. Emilio Nava (137) — 119
  2. Ethan Quinn (114) — 100
  3. Colton Smith (162) — 63
  4. Chris Eubanks (110) — 50
  5. Eliot Spizzirri (121) — 44

The USTA utilizes this Challenge format to award wild cards into the Australian, French and US Opens. Previous Americans to earn wild cards into the French Open via the Challenge and how far they advanced at Roland Garros are below, including Frances Tiafoe, Tommy Paul and Emma Navarro, who won the women’s Challenge in 2023 to make her Grand Slam debut outside of the U.S.

Roland Garros Wild Card Challenge Winners:

2024: Sachia Vickery (1R); Nicolas Moreno de Alboran (1R)
2023: Emma Navarro (2R); Patrick Kypson (1R)
2022: Katie Volynets (2R); Michael Mmoh (1R)
2019: Lauren Davis (2R); Tommy Paul (1R)
2018: Taylor Townsend (2R); Noah Rubin (1R)
2017: Amanda Anisimova (1R); Tennys Sandgren (1R)
2016: Taylor Townsend (2R); Bjorn Fratangelo (2R)
2015: Louisa Chirico (1R); Frances Tiafoe (1R)
2014: Taylor Townsend (3R); Robby Ginepri (1R)
2013: Shelby Rogers (2R); Alex Kuznetsov (1R)
2012: Melanie Oudin (2R); Brian Baker (2R)

AdventHealth Joins Nemours Children’s Health as Official Medical Services Providers of the USTA National Campus

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The United States Tennis Association (USTA) announced that AdventHealth will join Nemours Children’s Health as the Official Medical Services Providers of the USTA National Campus. AdventHealth is joining as a new partner, while Nemours has been a partner with the USTA National Campus since the Lake Nona facility opened in 2017.

The partnership will kick off this weekend when the three organizations come together to host a free community day at the USTA National Campus to celebrate National Tennis Month, which takes place across the country throughout the month of May. The event will feature tennis programming, a health and wellness zone, and other interactive activities and giveaways. The event takes place from 1:30-4:30 p.m. on Sunday, May 4.

“The USTA’s mission is to grow tennis to inspire healthier people and communities and we are excited to launch a partnership with AdventHealth at the USTA National Campus, and grow our existing relationship with Nemours, to continue that mission right here in Central Florida,” said Lew Sherr, CEO and Executive Director, USTA.  “The health and safety of the players and guests at the USTA National Campus is our number one priority and we feel confident that they will receive world-class medical service from both of these outstanding organizations.”

As part of the partnership, AdventHealth and Nemours will jointly oversee all medical services at the USTA National Campus, while also providing athletic medicine, athletic training and other health support for elite American athletes while they are training at the National Campus. Both partners will be prominently featured throughout the USTA National Campus and will collaborate with the USTA National Campus to promote the health benefits of tennis throughout the community.

“We are pleased to be bringing our unique brand of whole-person care, and our world-class sports-medicine expertise, to the athletes at the USTA National Campus,” said Doug Harcombe, CEO of AdventHealth Lake Nona, which is currently under construction. “This is an important element of our commitment to care for this community, by bringing a state-of-the-art facility built on innovation, technology and wellness to Lake Nona in 2026.”

“Nemours Children’s Health has partnered with USTA since 2017, when they opened the Lake Nona facility, and are proud to continue that partnership while welcoming AdventHealth to the National Campus medical care team”, said Martha McGill, BSN, MBA, MHA, President of the Central Florida Region for Nemours Children’s Health. “This partnership gives us the opportunity to help local youth stay healthy and active while introducing them to a new sport, as well as doing what we do best – providing the best possible medical care.”

Additionally, AdventHealth and the USTA will partner to bring the health benefits of tennis to the Orlando community, with an emphasis on women, seniors and the developmentally disabled. This will include pop-up tennis events and other programming targeting underserved and vulnerable communities with the goal of improving health and wellness through tennis.

On site at the National Campus, Nemours will retain naming rights of the facility’s “Family Zone,” which features youth courts that focus on entry-level play, as well as acquire naming rights for the Player Development Lodge, utilized by visiting junior players. Meanwhile, AdventHealth will create an immersive experience zone focused on health and wellness.

Orthopedic surgeon Dr. Daryl Osbahr will serve as AdventHealth co-medical director for the USTA National Campus. “Our whole-athlete care model has been shown to benefit everyone from professionals to weekend warriors,” Osbahr said. “We are excited to provide on-site care and support for athletes of all levels at the USTA National Campus.”

“We welcome AdventHealth and look forward to this continued partnership with USTA,” said John Lovejoy, MD, Chair of Orthopedics, Nemours Children’s Hospital, Florida. “Nemours Children’s Health is committed to creating the healthiest generations of children, and we are taking that commitment well beyond medicine through our continued work with the USTA.”

Multiple studies have found that tennis is the “healthiest sport in the world” adding some 9.7 years to tennis players’ lives when compared to the lives of sedentary individuals, more longevity than other sports such as soccer, jogging and swimming provide. Additionally, playing tennis can lower the risk of heart disease by up to 50%, and improve balance, mental acuity, speed and sense of social connection, showing that getting out on the tennis court can improve your quality of life in many ways.

USTA Names New Head For Player Development / High Performance

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The USTA announced that Tracy Davies has been named to the position of General Manager, USA Tennis. In this new role, Davies will oversee an expanded high performance division that joins Player Development, Pro Circuit, Collegiate, Junior Competition, and International Team Events into a single cohesive department. As the strategic business lead for this division, she will be tasked with optimizing the resources and player pathways for the most competitive juniors and professional players in order to foster a culture of transparency, alignment, and innovation, impacting players through competition, coaching, and player support.

“Following an extensive search, I’m thrilled to announce that Tracy Davies will lead our USA Tennis division,” said Lew Sherr, CEO and Executive Director of the USTA. “Tracy brings not only deep experience in high performance and coaching, but also a strategic mindset and business acumen that will enhance how we approach the competitive pathway and help shape the future of American tennis at every level.”

In this new role, Davies will be responsible for integrating athlete development, high performance, and competitive pathways, including collegiate tennis, within the USTA. She will be tasked with adopting a holistic approach to athlete support, encompassing performance optimization, well-being, and competitive success in alignment with the USTA’s mission and strategic priority: growing tennis to inspire healthier people and communities everywhere.

“I am thrilled to be the new leader of our USA Tennis Division. With the recent alignment of our player development and competition pathways, we have a unique opportunity to reimagine a broader more holistic vision of success for our American athletes,” said Davies. “My priority is to build on the organization’s strong foundations as we look to provide increased high-quality competitive opportunities and expanded player-centric support and training for our high-performance junior, collegiate and professional athletes. I am extremely excited to get started and look forward to working collaboratively with our players, their support teams, and the expanded tennis industry to continue to drive a world-class support system for our next generation of players.”

Before this appointment, Davies held numerous roles at the USTA, focused on player pathway development. Most recently, as the Managing Director, Major Events and Competitive Pathway, she strengthened the connection between and integrated national junior competitions, collegiate tennis, and the transitional tour, supporting the development of U.S. players. In addition, she was responsible for the management and leadership of the Davis Cup and Billie Jean King Cup teams. Davies also led the development of the current competitive pathway for juniors in the U.S., having aligned the 17 USTA Sections into a single ranking system and tournament structure, and has overseen key events for the USTA, including the Orange Bowl International Tennis Championships and the NCAA National Championships, held at the USTA National Campus.

“We know that when American players succeed on the world stage, it inspires millions to pick up a racquet and drives greater visibility for our sport,” said Brian Vahaly, Chairman of the Board and President, USTA. “This division plays a critical role in that effort, and under Tracy’s leadership, it will be guided with the strategic focus and operational discipline needed to ensure we’re making the most of every investment. Her commitment to transparency and a player-first approach will be key as we work to support our future champions.”

Davies began her career as Player Development Director of USTA Florida, overseeing Florida’s top-ranked junior players, talent identification, as well as USTA area training centers, managing regional camps and various coaching and training responsibilities. From there, she was elevated to the level of National Coach for USTA Player Development, focusing on national 14U age groups. In this role she supported top American players, collaborating with their academies, private programs, coaches, and parents through supplemental player training, sports science services, and national camps. Davies later held similar positions outside of the U.S., serving as a traveling coach for the International Tennis Federation where she focused on the 18U age group, and as National Development Coach for the South Africa Tennis Association. She also held the role of Executive Director for the Miami Tennis & Education Foundation, where she negotiated and managed over $10M in trusts and non-profit grants, directly benefiting more than 3,000 children in the Greater Miami area with afterschool training, tutoring, and life skills programs.

“I know firsthand how important it is for a player to receive the proper support and necessary resources as they progress in their career, and I believe this newly combined high performance department within USTA will help to provide this better than ever before,” said Lindsay Davenport, U.S. Billie Jean King Cup Captain, ITHOF Inductee, and three-time Grand Slam singles champion. “Tracy Davies, someone I have worked with and respect, is the ideal person to lead this area and I look forward to continuing working with her to elevate American tennis.” Davenport will captain the U.S. Billie Jean King Cup team next week as they compete in the Qualifiers round in Slovakia.

Davies is a graduate of the University of Tennessee, where she was a member of the women’s tennis team. She also holds a master’s degree in business administration/finance from Tennessee Technological University.

Davies was selected for this role following a competitive and comprehensive international six-month process, which included the efforts of Turnkey ZRG, an external talent recruiting firm specializing in global sports and entertainment.