The USTA hired former WTA Tour Chair & CEO STACEY ALLASTER to "run its professional tennis division, which includes the U.S. Open Tennis Championships," according to Daniel Kaplan of SPORTSBUSINESS JOURNAL. Allaster, who will start her new role on April 18, left the WTA in October "after a six-year reign leading the largest professional sport for women." At the time she resigned, she indicated one reason was the "desire to spend more time with her family was incompatible" with her position. However, Allaster had been "under pressure to increase WTA revenue and had not found a new lead sponsor for the tour." The role Allaster will hold with the USTA has been vacant since ARLEN KANTARIAN departed in '08 "following an internal power struggle" with USTA Exec Dir & COO GORDON SMITH. The USTA was not actively seeking anyone to fill the role, but it "saw an opportunity with Allaster." Part of Allaster's job will be to "interact with the political bodies in the sport, like the WTA," but her role will be slightly different than that of Kantarian's. While Kantarian "oversaw all revenue functions," Allaster will "be focused on the USTA's professional tournaments and interactions" with governing bodies (SPORTSBUSINESS JOURNAL, 3/14 issue). In N.Y., Christopher Clarey reports DAVID BREWER will remain U.S. Open Tournament Dir and "report to Allaster." Smith "expressed confidence that Allaster, accustomed to leading an organization, would adjust well to being part of a management team." Smith indicated in addition to the U.S. Open, Allaster would be responsible for the Emirates Airlines U.S. Open Series, the Davis Cup and the Fed Cup. He added that Allaster "would also be involved at the lower levels, overseeing the pro-circuit events." One goal is to "increase youth participation" (N.Y. TIMES, 3/14).
CUSTOMIZED ROLE: The GLOBE & MAIL's Rachel Brady notes Smith and Allaster "came up with a custom-made position" that will see Allaster work "some of the year at the USTA's new state-of-the-art home" near Orlando. She will spend the summers in N.Y. "working on the Open, with her family in tow." Allaster: "I didn't think I'd be back working in tennis, certainly not this quickly, but the USTA came up with an opportunity that was too good to pass up. It hits my two sweet spots: tennis and women in leadership in sport" (GLOBE & MAIL, 3/14).
