Most of Australia’s leading men’s tennis players – including Alex de Minaur – have united to endorse Sam Groth for a senior leadership position at Tennis Australia as the hunt for Craig Tiley’s successor nears its end.
A group of 11 players forwarded a letter to new TA chairperson Chris Harrop, as well as Tiley and chief tennis officer Tom Larner, backing Groth to score a role with “genuine authority and accountability” that would include player engagement, high-performance outcomes and the Australian Open.
They acknowledged Tiley’s significant contribution to Australian tennis and the Australian Open, and made it clear they would like to meet with Harrop to provide more detail on their views.
Larner, a long-time TA employee, is the hot favourite to replace Tiley as the organisation’s chief executive after the South African-born powerbroker announced in February he was leaving to become the USTA’s new CEO.
Groth represented Australia in the Davis Cup, won the Newcombe Medal as the country’s most outstanding player in 2015, and reached a career-high singles ranking of No.53. The 38-year-old became a politician in his post-playing career before resigning as the Deputy Opposition Leader and Nepean MP in January.
“Sam brings credible firsthand experience across the full journey of Australian tennis,” the players wrote in the letter.
“As an Australian Open competitor, a Davis Cup representative, and a respected leader within the playing community, he understands what athletes need to develop, compete and represent Australia, as well as what the Australian Open means to players, fans and the wider sport.
“We believe Sam can help align participation, pathways and performance, strengthen engagement and trust with key stakeholders, and support the organisation to keep the Australian Open strong and closely connected to the long-term interests of Australian tennis.”
Groth flew out of the country at the weekend, and plans to attend the year’s second grand slam tournament at Roland-Garros in Paris, France.
De Minaur, grand slam doubles champion and former ATP player council member Matt Ebden, fellow doubles player John Peers, Jordan Thompson, Chris O’Connell, James Duckworth, Jason Kubler, Aleks Vukic, Rinky Hijikata, Adam Walton and Tristan Schoolkate were the signatories.
The only prominent Australian men’s players missing from the list are Alexei Popyrin, Nick Kyrgios and Thanasi Kokkinakis.
This masthead spoke with two sources familiar with the letter, who were granted anonymity to discuss the topic more freely, and the hope was that Groth being in an important role, with a genuine say, would help provide players with a greater voice on meaningful matters.
“As the board considers the next phase of leadership, we believe this transition is an opportunity to strengthen the connection between grassroots tennis and high-performance outcomes,” the players wrote.
“The leadership team must understand the club and coaching network that sustains the sport, the pathway and realities of the international tour, and the importance of the Australian Open as the flagship event that showcases Australian tennis and helps secure the sport’s future.
“Just as importantly, we believe future leadership must prioritise strong, consistent stakeholder engagement. That includes meaningful engagement with players, coaches and support teams, clubs and volunteers, state member associations, officials, commercial partners, broadcasters, government, and the wider tennis community.
“Clear communication, alignment on priorities, and trust built through regular consultation will be critical to maintaining momentum across the sport and delivering the Australian Open at the highest standard.”
Groth was contacted for comment.
Tiley, who has been part of the process to find his replacement, wants his successor, like him, to be TA’s CEO and the Australian Open tournament director.
However, Tiley’s predecessor, Paul McNamee, told this masthead in March that it would be nigh on impossible to find another “jack-of-all-trades” like Tiley.
McNamee’s recommendation was to first hire a CEO, then make two tennis-specific appointments as Australian Open tournament director then a separate head of tennis who would be responsible for overseeing the player pathway.
Wimbledon champion Pat Cash is among the critics of the current player development pathway, headed by chief strategy and performance officer Tim Jolley, and the lack of tennis expertise on the organisation’s board.
Australia’s presence in the top 100 on the men’s side has dwindled to four players – de Minaur (9), Popyrin (61), Duckworth (83) and Vukic (100).
Of greater concern is that James McCabe (233), Philip Sekulic (312) and Edward Winter (460) are the only Australian men’s players younger than 25 in the top 500.
When Tiley’s departure was announced in February, Tennis Australia said the search for his replacement would be led by executive recruitment firm Egon Zehnder.
“We have commenced an internal and external search for a new CEO and look forward to an orderly transition,” Harrop said at the time.
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