Tennis Canada head Downey announces retirement after Grand Slam, Davis Cup success
Tennis Canada president and chief govt officer Michael Downey introduced Tuesday he’ll retire on the finish of the yr.
Canadian tennis gamers have loved appreciable success throughout Downey’s 15 years as head of the group.
His second time period as president and CEO, which began in 2017, consists of Bianca Andreescu’s 2019 U.S. Open victory and Canada’s first Davis Cup title final yr.
Downey joined Tennis Canada in 2004, and his first time period noticed the event of the Nationwide Tennis Centre, which developed the likes of Andreescu, Eugenie Bouchard, Milos Raonic and Félix Auger-Aliassime into stars on the WTA and ATP Excursions.
Downey left after 2013 to take over as CEO of Britain’s Garden Tennis Affiliation, however his funding in growing gamers paid off with Bouchard reaching the 2014 Wimbledon remaining, and Raonic reaching the boys’s remaining on the All England Membership two years later.
Downey returned to Tennis Canada in 2017 after his alternative, Kelly Murumets, left on the finish of the earlier yr.
Along with Andreescu’s U.S. Open conquer Serena Williams in New York — Canada first ever Grand Slam singles title — and the Davis Cup win in Malaga, Spain, Downey’s second stint noticed Leylah Fernandez advance to the 2021 U.S. Open remaining, Canada attain the 2019 Davis Cup remaining and Auger-Aliassime win 4 ATP Tour titles final yr, together with three in a row late within the season.
“Being chief govt of Tennis Canada has been my dream job,” Downey stated in a launch. “I used to be downright fortunate to have held this coveted management place not as soon as, however twice. I take nice satisfaction in our extremely proficient, gender and city-balanced senior administration workforce that can make sure the daring ambitions of our new strategic plan can be achieved.”
Downey stated he was impressed by Canada’s crop of expertise over his time as head of Tennis Canada, which additionally consists of Aleksandra Wozniak, Vasek Pospisil, Denis Shapovalov, Rebecca Marino, Daniel Nestor and Gabriela Dabrowski.
“They’re all family names due to their on and off-court brilliance. However, their biggest legacy would be the inspiration they supply to the long run era of Canadian expertise that can, sooner or later, guarantee Canada stays a world-leading tennis nation.”
Tennis Canada says a seek for a brand new CEO is underway.
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Canada’s Andreescu falls to No. 9 seed Rybakina in Dubai opener
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