A "behind-the-scenes effort" to have Australian Open Tournament Dir Craig Tiley "shoehorned in as chief executive of the ATP World Tour has caused a rift between the playing and governance sides of the game," according to Neil Harman of the LONDON TIMES. Players Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray have been "pressing Tiley's case, although their deliberations were said not to involve" ATP Player Council President Roger Federer. He is "believed to be surprised that he had not been consulted." The result was a "stormy meeting on Sunday, after which Nadal, who was leading the advocacy of Tiley, was seen in heated debate with ATP officials." The position of CEO has been "vacant since April" when Brad Drewett passed away. It was "believed that the ATP would decide to promote from within," with Chief Legal Officer & ATP Americas CEO Mark Young and Commercial Dir & ATP Europe CEO Laurent Delanney as possible candidates. However, the players have "made it known that they would like to be able to select from a greater number of prospective leaders" (LONDON TIMES, 6/26). USA TODAY's Douglas Robson cited a source as saying that Young "remains in the running" for the position. Delanney has "withdrawn his candidacy." Tiley, a South African, is "considered a player-friendly executive." Tiley yesterday said that he was "not part of any 'formal process' for the job" (USA TODAY, 6/26).
