The USTA announced that Eric Butorac, USTA Senior Director, Player Relations and Business Development and former top 20 doubles professional and President of the ATP Player Council, has been named the next tournament director of the US Open beginning in 2026. Butorac succeeds Stacey Allaster, who will continue to serve as USTA Chief Executive, Professional Tennis before transitioning to the role of Strategic Advisor in May 2026.
Butorac joined the USTA in 2016 after a 14-year tour career and has since led a comprehensive improvement in player and tour relations with the USTA and the US Open. Known for his strong relationships throughout tennis, Butorac has been instrumental in improving the player experience at the US Open and has been instrumental in the growth of US Open Fan Week and its flagship events. This year, he served as tournament director of the reimagined US Open Mixed Doubles Championship, which took the competition to unprecedented levels with record attendance, viewership and engagement. He also served as tournament director of the Cincinnati Open in 2022.
“We are pleased to welcome Eric as the new tournament director of the US Open. He is one of the most respected and trusted figures in tennis and his impact on the USTA and the US Open has been exceptional,” said Brian Vahaly, USTA Chairman, President and Interim Co-CEO. “Eric has been instrumental in strengthening the US Open experience for both players and fans, and his leadership, insight and passion for the game make him the ideal person to lead the next chapter of tournament success.”
Butorac, 44, won 18 ATP doubles titles in his 14-year professional career and reached the doubles final at the 2014 Australian Open. The Rochester, Minnesota, native was a member of the ATP Player Council for eight years and succeeded Roger Federer as its president in 2014.
“I am beyond excited and grateful to serve as US Open tournament director. This is, in many ways, a dream come true and the highlight of my life and career in tennis,” said Butorac. “I am honored not only by the opportunity, but also by the opportunity to follow in the footsteps of one of my greatest mentors, Stacey Allaster. I am indebted to Stacey; I have learned more from her than I ever could have imagined after transitioning from a touring career. Now I can’t wait to help drive the continued growth and success of the US Open into the future.”
Butorac was a three-time ITA All-American while playing college tennis for Gustavus Adolphus College in Minnesota, winning the 2003 NCAA Division III singles and doubles titles. He was inducted into the Gustavus Adolphus Athletics Hall of Fame in 2018 and the ITA Hall of Fame in 2025.
“It has been one of the greatest honors of my career to serve as Tournament Director of the US Open – a global stage where champions rise and history is made. It has also been a privilege to work with Eric and witness his remarkable journey from the playing field as a professional player to a boardroom executive,” said Allaster. “I have seen and felt firsthand his commitment to the sport, his commitment to his own professional development, and his evolution into a respected industry leader and trusted teammate. Eric brings humility, heart, and a mindset attuned to the needs of our players and fans, and that makes him uniquely qualified to lead the US Open into its next chapter of growth. The US Open Grand Slam Championships are in great hands with Eric as Tournament Director.”