ATP's Etienne De Villiers To Step Down As Chair, President

De Villiers To Step Down At End Of '08 Season

ATP Tour Exec Chair & President ETIENNE DE VILLIERS, who has been in his role as Chair since June '05, announced today that he will not be renewing his contract at the end of the '08 season. De Villiers said in a statement, "I was tasked by the ATP Board, three years ago, to create a vision that would involve bold changes for our sport. I believe that has now been achieved." ATP BOD member and Heineken Auckland Open CEO GRAHAM PEARCE said, "Etienne has been an outstanding leader for our sport over his three year term. ... Men's tennis owes him a huge debt." De Villiers will assist the ATP BOD in their recruitment of a successor (ATP).