Outgoing Tennis Canada CEO aims to ace growth for women's game

As he prepares to leave his post, Tennis Canada CEO Michael Downey says there's still work to be done in growing the game, especially when it comes to getting more girls and women on the court.

Sports fans want to watch women play and national organizations have a role in making sure that happens, he said.

"I think we're seeing the cusp of a phenomenal growth of women's sport generally," said Downey, who announced in February he would retire at the end of 2023.

"And I think in the past, years ago, [TV] networks might have thought 'I need to put women on because I'm supposed to do it.' Now they're doing it because they know the demand is there. And that's really motivating."

Over two tenures as CEO, Downey has overseen a major shift in Canadian tennis, with the country's players rocketing up the world rankings since he first took over in 2004.

Bianca Andreescu of Mississauga, Ont., won the U.S. Open in 2019 and Montreal's Felix Auger-Aliassime captured four titles on the ATP Tour last year. Canada's men's team won its first Davis Cup title in 2022 and, on Saturday, the women's squad earned a berth in November's Billie Jean King Cup finals.

"Canadian tennis is taken very seriously on the global stage," Downey said. "I've had many counterparts, CEOs of other tennis federations over the years, ask what's in the water in Canada that the country's been able to kind of come out of nowhere and really develop some strong singles talent.

"I think the rest of world does look over and say 'Hey, this is a winter sport nation, but they're doing so well in tennis.' And it's great to see."

During his first term, Downey oversaw the opening of the National Tennis Centre in Montreal as well as regional training centres in Vancouver and