The United States Tennis Association (USTA), the governing body of U.S. tennis, announced that Lew Sherr is stepping down as CEO, effective June 30, to pursue a new professional opportunity outside of the tennis industry. Upon Sherr’s departure, USTA Board Chairman Brian Vahaly and Chief Operating Officer and Chief Legal Officer Andrea Hirsch will serve as interim Co-CEOs while the organization searches for its next leader.

Vahaly has served five non-consecutive terms on the USTA Board of Directors and was elected as chairman and president for the 2025/26 term. Since joining the USTA in 2006, Hirsch has served in multiple roles across the organization, including her current positions as Chief Operating Officer and Chief Legal Officer, which she assumed in 2022.

Said Sherr, “This is truly a bittersweet moment. Over the past 15 years, the USTA has been so much more than just a workplace; it has been a community, a purpose and a passion,” said Sherr. “From my early days focused on revenue to the privilege of serving as CEO, I have had the honor of working alongside extraordinary colleagues and volunteers at every level of the organization. Together, we have navigated transformation, sparked innovation and set American tennis on a trajectory for long-term growth and impact. While I will no longer be leading from within, I will always be cheering on the USTA and the work ahead. I’m immensely proud of what we’ve accomplished together and even more excited to see where our talented team takes it next.”

Sherr’s tenure at the USTA, first as chief revenue officer and as CEO since 2022, has been marked by successes on several fronts, including:

  • Developing a growth strategy to reach 35 million players nationwide by 2035, having overseen five consecutive years of participation growth, with “25.7 million Americans playing tennis in 2024.”
  • Shifting the USTA’s focus toward health and wellness and leading the development and adoption of the organization’s mission — “Growing tennis to inspire healthier people and communities everywhere.”
  • Growing the U.S Open, achieving “one million attendees, signing a long-term broadcasting agreement with ESPN and increasing revenue to over $500 million at the 2024 tournament.”
  • Finalizing the largest single investment in U.S. Open history to modernize the Arthur Ashe Stadium and create a new Player Performance Center. This project, announced last week, is slated for completion in 2027 and represents an $800 million investment in the U.S. Open and the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, self-funded by the USTA.

“On behalf of the entire USTA family, I want to thank Lew for his many years of service to our sport and wish him nothing but the best in his new role. Lew has played a key role in shepherding American tennis to this exciting moment and now the rest of us will carry that energy forward,” said Vahaly. “The USTA is in an exceptionally strong position. Tennis participation is at an all-time high, and the US Open is experiencing unprecedented popularity and record-breaking attendance. We have a solid foundation and real momentum, and Andrea and I are committed to continuing that progress as we prepare for the next chapter.”

Image courtesy U.S. Open