Katrina_Adams

Katrina Adams

Katrina Adams

American tennis player


Katrina M. Adams (born August 5, 1968) is an American tennis executive and former professional tennis player from Chicago. She was 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.

Quick Facts Country (sports), Residence ...

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 Illinois High School Association the first Chicago Public School and first African American singles champion in 1983 and 1984.[1] While attending Northwestern University, she won the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) doubles title with Diane Donnelly in 1987,[2] and was twice voted All-American.[3]

Results

Adams won seven of her 20 WTA doubles titles between 1987 and 1996 partnering Zina Garrison, including the 1988 World Doubles Championships.[4]

Her best Grand Slam singles result was in the 1988 Wimbledon Championships when she reached the fourth round, losing to Chris Evert 5–7, 6–3, 6–0. 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.[5]

Post-retirement

Adams has been a television commentator for the Tennis Channel since 2003,[6] 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.[7]

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 and the youngest person to serve as President in the 135-year history of the organisation.[8]

In 2016, Adams became Chairperson of the International Tennis Federation (ITF) Fed Cup committee, which governs the Fed Cup.[9]

Adams also serves on the board of directors for the International Tennis Hall of Fame.[10]

WTA Tour finals

Singles 2 (0–2)

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More information Outcome, No. ...

Doubles 36 (22–14)

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ITF Finals

Singles (1–1)

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Doubles (8–3)

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

Performance timelines

Key
W  F  SF QF #R RR Q# DNQ A NH
(W) winner; (F) finalist; (SF) semifinalist; (QF) quarterfinalist; (#R) rounds 4, 3, 2, 1; (RR) round-robin stage; (Q#) qualification round; (DNQ) did not qualify; (A) absent; (NH) not held; (SR) strike rate (events won / competed); (W–L) win–loss record.

Singles

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Doubles

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References

  1. "Girls Tennis Individual Champions". Records & History. Illinois High School Association. September 17, 2019. singles. Retrieved January 3, 2020.
  2. "Katrina Adams". ITA Women's Hall of Fame. College of William and Mary. Retrieved January 3, 2020.
  3. "Tennis: A Great Match for Katrina Adams". Northwestern Magazine. Northwestern University. Winter 2004. Retrieved July 28, 2008.
  4. Katrina Adams at the International Tennis Federation Edit this at Wikidata Retrieved July 28, 2008
  5. "Four distinguished alumni will receive honorary degrees". news.northwestern.edu. Retrieved March 5, 2024.
  6. "Katrina Adams". Programs. Tennis Channel. Archived from the original on July 20, 2008. Retrieved July 28, 2008.
  7. "News You Can Use". Pro Tennis. United States Tennis Association. October 25, 2006. Retrieved July 28, 2008.
  8. "FED CUP COMMITTEE". Fed Cup. Retrieved January 26, 2018.
  9. "Leadership". International Tennis Hall of Fame. Retrieved January 26, 2018.

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