Katrina M. Adams (born August 5, 1968) is an American tennis executive and former professional tennis player from Chicago. She was the president and CEO of the United States Tennis Association and chair of the US Open, as well as the chair of the International Tennis Federation Fed Cup and Gender Equality in Tennis committees. As a player, Adams was a doubles specialist, reaching the quarterfinal stage or better at all four Grand Slams as well as achieving a career-high doubles ranking of no. 8 (August 1989). Her book, Own the Arena: Getting Ahead, Making a Difference, and Succeeding as the Only One was published in 2021.

Early life Adams joined a tennis program on Chicago's West Side when she was six years old. She attended Whitney Young High School, becoming the Illinois High School Association's first Chicago Public School and first African American singles champion in 1983 and 1984. While attending Northwestern University, she won the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) doubles title with Diane Donnelly in 1987, and was twice voted All-American.

Results Adams won seven of her 20 WTA doubles titles between 1987 and 1996 partnering Zina Garrison, including the 1988 World Doubles Championships. Retrieved July 28, 2008

Her best Grand Slam singles result was in the 1988 Wimbledon Championships when she reached the fourth round, losing in three sets to Chris Evert. The same year, she was Wimbledon doubles semifinalist with Zina Garrison.

Awards Adams twice won the annual WTA Player Service Award in 1996 and 1997.

As alumni, in June 2024, Adams will be presented with an honorary degree during Northwestern's 166th Commencement ceremony.

Post-retirement Adams has been a television commentator for the Tennis Channel since 2003, a regular contributor to CBS Sports Network all-female sports panel We Need to Talk and is also an executive director of the Harlem Junior Tennis and Education Program.

In January 2015, Adams became president, chairman and CEO of the United States Tennis Association, becoming the first former professional tennis player, first African-American.

In 2016, Adams became Chairperson of the International Tennis Federation (ITF) Fed Cup committee, which governs the Fed Cup.

Adams also serves on the board of directors for the International Tennis Hall of Fame.

WTA Tour finals

Singles 2 (0–2) Legend Grand Slam tournaments (0/0) WTA Championships (0/0) Tier I (0/0) Tier II (0/0) Tier III (0/0) Tier IV & V (0/2) ResultW-LDateTournamentSurfaceOpponentScoreLoss 0–1 Feb 1988 Wellington, New Zealand Hard Jill Hetherington 6–1, 6–1Loss 0–2 Nov 1991 Brentwood, US Hard (i) Sabine Appelmans 6–2, 6–4

Doubles 36 (20–16) Legend Grand Slam tournaments (0/0) Olympic Gold (0/0) WTA Championships (0/0) Virginia Slims (2/0) Tier I (1/1) Tier II (4/5) Tier III (6/4) Tier IV & V (7/6)

ResultW-LDateTournamentSurfacePartnerOpponentsScoreWin 1–0 Dec 1987 Guarujá, Brazil Hard Cheryl Jones Jill Hetherington Mercedes Paz 6–4, 4–6, 6–4Win 2–0 Mar 1988 Boca Raton, US Hard Zina Garrison Claudia Kohde-Kilsch Helena Suková 4–6, 7–5, 6–4Loss 2–1 Apr 1988 Amelia Island, US Clay Penny Barg Zina Garrison Eva Pfaff 6–4, 2–6, 6–7(5–7)Win 3–1 Apr 1988 Houston, US Clay Zina Garrison Lori McNeil Martina Navratilova 6–7(4–7), 6–2, 6–4Loss 3–2 Oct 1988 Indianapolis, US Hard (i) Zina Garrison Larisa Savchenko Natasha Zvereva 2–6, 1–6Win 4–2 Nov 1988 Tokyo, Japan Carpet (i) Zina Garrison Gigi Fernández Robin White 7–5, 7–5Win 5–2 Jan 1989 Tokyo, Japan Carpet (i) Zina Garrison Mary Joe Fernández Claudia Kohde-Kilsch 6–3, 3–6, 7–6(7–5)Win 6–2 Feb 1989 San Antonio, US Hard Pam Shriver Patty Fendick Jill Hetherington 3–6, 6–1, 6–4Win 7–2 Apr 1989 Houston, US Clay Zina Garrison Gigi Fernández Lori McNeil 6–3, 6–4Win 8–2 May 1989 Geneva, Switzerland Clay Lori McNeil Larisa Savchenko Natalia Zvereva 2–6, 6–3, 6–4Win 9–2 Jun 1989 Eastbourne, UK Grass Zina Garrison Jana Novotná Helena Suková 6–3 ret.Win 10–2 Oct 1989 Brighton, UK Carpet Lori McNeil Hana Mandlíková Jana Novotná 4–6, 7–6(9–7), 6–4Win 11–2 Oct 1989 Indianapolis, US Hard (i) Lori McNeil Claudia Porwik Larisa Savchenko 6–4, 6–4Loss 11–3 Nov 1990 Indianapolis, US Hard (i) Jill Hetherington Patty Fendick Meredith McGrath 1–6, 1–6Loss 11–4 Feb 1991 Oklahoma City, US Hard (i) Jill Hetherington Meredith McGrath Anne Smith 2–6, 4–6Loss 11–5 Jul 1991 Westchester, US Hard Lori McNeil Rosalyn Fairbank Lise Gregory 5–7, 4–6Win 12–5 Aug 1991 Albuquerque, US Hard Isabelle Demongeot Lise Gregory Peanut Louie Harper 6–7(2–7), 6–4, 6–3Loss 12–6 Nov 1991 Indianapolis, US Hard (i) Mercedes Paz Patty Fendick Gigi Fernández 4–6, 2–6Loss 12–7 Feb 1992 Chicago, US Carpet Zina Garrison Martina Navratilova Pam Shriver 4–6, 6–7(7–9)Loss 12–8 Feb 1992 Oklahoma City, US Hard (i) Manon Bollegraf Lori McNeil Nicole Provis 6–3, 4–6, 6–7(6–8)Win 13–8 Nov 1992 Indianapolis, US Hard (i) Elna Reinach Sandy Collins Mary-Lou Daniels 5–7, 6–2, 6–4Win 14–8 Feb 1993 Chicago, US Carpet Zina Garrison Amy Frazier Kimberly Po 7–6(9–7), 6–3Loss 14–9 Feb 1993 Oklahoma City, US Hard (i) Manon Bollegraf Patty Fendick Zina Garrison 3–6, 2–6Win 15–9 Mar 1993 Houston, US Clay Manon Bollegraf Eugenia Maniokova Radomira Zrubáková 6–3, 5–7, 7–6(9–7)Loss 15–10 Mar 1993 Hilton Head, US Clay Manon Bollegraf Gigi Fernández Natalia Zvereva 3–6, 1–6Win 16–10 Nov 1993 Quebec City, Canada Hard (i) Manon Bollegraf Katerina Maleeva Nathalie Tauziat 6–4, 6–4Win 17–10 Nov 1993 Philadelphia, US Carpet Manon Bollegraf Conchita Martínez Larisa Neiland 6–2, 4–6, 7–6(9–7)Loss 17–11 Feb 1994 Oklahoma City, US Hard (i) Manon Bollegraf Patty Fendick Meredith McGrath 6–7(3–7), 2–6Loss 17–12 Mar 1994 Houston, US Clay Zina Garrison Manon Bollegraf Martina Navratilova 4–6, 2–6Loss 17–13 Feb 1995 Oklahoma City, US Hard (i) Brenda Schultz Nicole Arendt Laura Golarsa 4–6, 3–6Loss 17–14 Oct 1995 Oakland, US Carpet Zina Garrison Lori McNeil Helena Suková 6–3, 4–6, 3–6Loss 17–15 Feb 1996 Oklahoma City, US Hard (i) Debbie Graham Chanda Rubin Brenda Schultz-McCarthy 4–6, 3–6Win 18–15 May 1996 Budapest, Hungary Clay Debbie Graham Radka Bobková Eva Melicharová 6–3, 7–6(7–3)Win 19–15 May 1996 Cardiff, UK Clay Mariaan de Swardt Els Callens Laurence Courtois 6–0, 6–4Win 20–15 Jun 1997 Birmingham, UK Grass Larisa Neiland Nathalie Tauziat Linda Wild 6–2, 6–3Loss 20–16 Jan 1998 Sydney, Australia Hard Meredith McGrath Martina Hingis Helena Suková 1–6, 2–6

ITF finals Singles (1–1) ResultNo.DateTournamentSurfaceOpponentScoreLoss 1. August 3, 1987 Lebanon, United States Hard Shaun Stafford 6–3, 1–6, 3–6Win 2. January 21, 1991 New Braunfels, United States Hard María Luciana Reynares 7–6(7), 2–6, 6–2

Doubles (8–3) Result No. Date Tournament Surface Partner Opponents ScoreWin 1. June 30, 1986 Tampa, United States Clay Heliane Steden Brenda Niemeyer Karen Schimper 4–6, 6–1, 6–3Win 2. July 14, 1986 Midland, United States Clay Sonia Hahn Alison Scott Ruth Seeman 2–6, 6–3, 6–4Win 3. January 5, 1987 Chicago, United States Hard Diane Donnelly Mary Lou Daniels Yvonne Vermaak 6–4, 6–3Loss 4. June 15, 1987 Birmingham, United States Hard Sonia Hahn Ingelise Driehuis Lise Gregory 6–7(0), 6–4, 6–2Win 5. July 20, 1987 Philadelphia, United States Hard Ingelise Driehuis Kathy Foxworth Tammy Whittington 6–3, 6–4Win 6. July 27, 1987 Chatham, United States Hard Diane Donnelly Jennifer Fuchs Robyn Lamb 7–5, 6–3Win 7. September 24, 1990 Chicago, United States Hard Lynn Nabors Jill Hetherington Mary Lou Daniels 6–4, 6–4Loss 8. January 28, 1991 Midland, United States Hard Helen Kelesi Meredith McGrath Anne Smith 5–7, 5–7Win 9. September 23, 1991 Chicago, United States Hard Mary Lou Daniels Beverly Bowes-Hackney Cammy Macgregor 6–4, 6–3Loss 10. February 12, 1996 Midland, United States Hard Debbie Graham Angela Lettiere Corina Morariu 6–7, 6–7Win 11. October 7, 1996 Sedona, United States Hard Debbie Graham Angela Lettiere Shannan McCarthy 6–4, 6–1

Performance timelines

Singles Tournament 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 Grand Slam tournamentsAustralian OpenA1R2R1RA3RQ2Q1Q1A1R4–8French OpenA1R1RQ2Q21RQ1Q3A1RQ14–9WimbledonA4R3R1RQ22RQ11R1R2RQ218–10US OpenQ21R1R1RQ3A1R1R3R1RQ37–10

Doubles Tournament19861987198819891990199119921993199419951996199719981999Grand Slam tournamentsAustralian OpenAA3R3R3RAQF3R2R1RA2R1R1R13–10French OpenAAQFQF3R3RQFQF1RQFQF2R3R1R25–12WimbledonAASFQF3RQF3R1R2R3RQF3R3R1R23–12US Open1R1R2R3R3RQFA3RQF3R2R3R2R1R19–13

References

External links