John Wylie backs Craig Tiley to bounce back from Australian Open controversies
Despite another controversy-laden Australian Open, event boss Craig Tiley has been backed to bounce back after his rocky start to 2022.
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Aussie sports powerbroker John Wylie has backed Tennis Australia boss Craig Tiley to bounce back from a summer of controversy at the Australian Open.
Tournament director and Tennis Australia chief Tiley has faced calls to resign and even for the Open to be moved from Melbourne over the Novak Djokovic visa bungle and an initial ban on fans wearing “where is Peng Shuai’’ T-shirts.
But former Australian Sports Commission and Melbourne Cricket Ground Trust chair Wylie said Tiley should be credited with the long-term success of Melbourne’s Grand Slam.
“I think Craig Tiley is a superb sports executive,’’ he said.
“He is one of the best in Australian sport.
“He’s had a tough trot – he’s trying to create the best possible tournament for the spectators and the players.
“So it’s pretty natural to try and have the best talent playing in your marquee tournament.
“He’s an exceptionally competent executive, Craig.’’
Tiley this week revoked a ban on T-shirts in support of the Chinese player at the Open and said he regretted the “distraction” Djokovic’s initial vaccination exemption and subsequent deportation caused.
US tennis star Tennys Sandgren declared “Australia doesn’t deserve to host a Grand Slam” in the wake of the controversy, which reignited speculation other cities and nations want to poach Melbourne’s showpiece.
Wylie, on Wednesday awarded one of just seven people awarded the highest Australia Day Honour, the Companion of the Order (AC), said the Open belonged in Melbourne.
“It’s not going to go anywhere,’’ he said.
“Traditions run really deep in sport – it’s like the Ashes in cricket.
“The big four in tennis – Wimbledon, the US Open, French and Australia – that’s the way it has been for years.
“You can set up new tournaments but they don’t have the same cache, they don’t have the same meaning to the players, and ultimately that is what drives it.’’
Tiley told the Herald Sun the completion of a 10-year, $1 billion redevelopment of Melbourne Park had locked in the long term future of the Open despite recent criticism.
“The Australian Open is firmly embedded into the Melbourne and Victorian culture,’’ he said.
“This event is important to Melburnians, Victorians and we will always do the right thing in protecting the safety of the community.
“But at the same time, staging this international event is important to the economy, it’s important for the culture.’’
Wylie, who oversaw the AIS from 2012-2020, and is a former Melbourne Stars deputy chair and Victorian Olympic Council Finance Committee board member, said Melbourne’s Grand Slam was the envy of the world.
“The growth and success of the Australian Open has been nothing short
of phenomenal,’’ he said.
“It’s something that Australians should celebrate, to get the top athletes in a major sport coming here and competing.
“If you compare it to what the Australian Open was back in the 1970s, it’s unrecognisable.’’
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