Katrina Adams

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.

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)

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

Doubles