Home AUSTRALIAN OPEN MIXED DOUBLES TENNIS Tennis Reform Coming as Abdo Replaces Tiley at TA Amid Player Fury Over Schedule & Prize Money

Tennis Reform Coming as Abdo Replaces Tiley at TA Amid Player Fury Over Schedule & Prize Money

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Andrew Abdo joins Craig Tiley to drive global tennis innovation
Andrew Abdo joins Craig Tiley to drive global tennis innovation

Andrew Abdo will lead Tennis Australia while Craig Tiley takes over USTA. The former NRL boss and long-serving TA chief plan to work together to fix tennis’ packed calendar and revenue issues.


With players like Sabalenka and Gauff threatening boycotts over pay and calendar chaos, Andrew Abdo joins Craig Tiley to push reforms. Abdo starts at Tennis Australia in August...


Abdo and Tiley are teaming up to drive innovation in world tennis. Incoming Tennis Australia CEO Andrew Abdo will work closely with outgoing boss Craig Tiley to push reforms across the global game. The two South Africans are now set to wield influence from opposite sides of the Pacific.


Abdo, currently NRL chief executive, was confirmed as Tiley’s replacement at TA this week. He’ll maintain a strong working relationship with the long-serving TA head, who is moving to head up the United States Tennis Association.


The tennis calendar is jammed with clashing events, and players are fed up with the schedule demands and their cut of the sport’s revenue. Tiley has long pushed for tennis bodies to collaborate so they can deliver a stronger, more unified product.


Together, the two will run two of tennis’ four Grand Slams. Tiley said he and Abdo plan to work side-by-side as equals to drive change in the game.


“I'll be on the other side of the ocean and we'll ‌work closely together to solve some of the issues with ⁠global tennis that currently exist and the ‌opportunities,” Tiley told a press conference with Abdo in Melbourne on Friday.


“That's the part I'm particularly looking forward to.


“The sport needs reform. And tennis is probably one of the few sports left where there's such a massive opportunity.


“From a global fan perspective, it ranks number three globally, but from a commercial standpoint, it's number 11.


“So ... that's a gap that can be closed. And so we'll, together as partners, along with the other Slams ⁠and the other stakeholders, hopefully have an impact on that.”


Frustration over prize money hit boiling point before the French Open, with world No.1 Aryna Sabalenka and Coco Gauff even floating the idea of boycotts.


Abdo takes over at Tennis Australia in August and said it’s still too soon for him to weigh in on how the Australian Open would handle those concerns.


Tiley, though, was more direct and said players deserve higher pay.


“And there's a way to do that that's sustainable for everyone and that needs to be worked through,” he added.


Abdo wouldn’t confirm if he’d also take on the Australian Open tournament director role like Tiley, who gets almost no sleep during the Grand Slam.


“What happens underneath that in terms of organisation and who’s responsible for what, I’ll get to once I start in the ‌role,” he said.


Over 13 years as Tennis Australia boss and 20 years running the Australian Open, Tiley turned the Grand Slam into one of the world’s top sporting events. It’s now known for shattering attendance and revenue records year after year.




Tiley has a reputation in tennis for his relentless work ethic. He’s also hands-on, wanting to stay involved in every part of the sport.


One of Abdo’s toughest jobs will be expanding a tournament that’s already pushing Melbourne Park to capacity.


Fans have complained about higher prices and a weaker experience, with long lines at outer courts a regular frustration for those on cheaper ground passes.


Dealing with the extreme January heat that often hits the event is another major challenge.




“We need ⁠more seats, we need more shade, ‌we need more screens, we need more space,” said Tiley.






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