British Tournament Director Could Succeed Australian Brad Drewett As ATP Head

British tournament director CHRIS KERMODE, "who has helped transform" the London ATP finals into one of the "success stories of recent tennis history, has emerged as a leading candidate to become head of the ATP," according to Neil Harman of the LONDON TIMES. The succession to BRAD DREWETT, the Australian who "died in April from ­motor neurone disease, has been stalled in recent months as argument has gone back and forth between the tournaments and the players -- who own a 50-50 share in the ATP -- as to who possessed the right credentials." There are "four principal hopefuls, Kermode and three Americans:" ATP Americas CEO MARK YOUNG, BNP Paribas Open Tournament Dir STEVE SIMON and former WTA President DAVID SHOEMAKER, who became the NBA's China operation CEO two years ago. Next week in London, "the ATP Board is scheduled to deliberate and Drewett’s successor will be named by the end of the year" (LONDON TIMES, 10/29).