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.

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-LDateTournamentSurfaceOpponentScore
Loss0–1Feb 1988Wellington, New ZealandHardCanada Jill Hetherington6–1, 6–1
Loss0–2Nov 1991Brentwood, USHard (i)Belgium Sabine Appelmans6–2, 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-LDateTournamentSurfacePartnerOpponentsScore
Win1–0Dec 1987Guarujá, BrazilHardUnited States Cheryl JonesCanada Jill Hetherington Argentina Mercedes Paz6–4, 4–6, 6–4
Win2–0Mar 1988Boca Raton, USHardUnited States Zina GarrisonWest Germany Claudia Kohde-Kilsch Czechoslovakia Helena Suková4–6, 7–5, 6–4
Loss2–1Apr 1988Amelia Island, USClayUnited States Penny BargUnited States Zina Garrison West Germany Eva Pfaff6–4, 2–6, 6–7(5–7)
Win3–1Apr 1988Houston, USClayUnited States Zina GarrisonUnited States Lori McNeil United States Martina Navratilova6–7(4–7), 6–2, 6–4
Loss3–2Oct 1988Indianapolis, USHard (i)United States Zina GarrisonSoviet Union Larisa Savchenko Soviet Union Natasha Zvereva2–6, 1–6
Win4–2Nov 1988Tokyo, JapanCarpet (i)United States Zina GarrisonUnited States Gigi Fernández United States Robin White7–5, 7–5
Win5–2Jan 1989Tokyo, JapanCarpet (i)United States Zina GarrisonUnited States Mary Joe Fernández West Germany Claudia Kohde-Kilsch6–3, 3–6, 7–6(7–5)
Win6–2Feb 1989San Antonio, USHardUnited States Pam ShriverUnited States Patty Fendick Canada Jill Hetherington3–6, 6–1, 6–4
Win7–2Apr 1989Houston, USClayUnited States Zina GarrisonUnited States Gigi Fernández United States Lori McNeil6–3, 6–4
Win8–2May 1989Geneva, SwitzerlandClayUnited States Lori McNeilSoviet Union Larisa Savchenko Soviet Union Natalia Zvereva2–6, 6–3, 6–4
Win9–2Jun 1989Eastbourne, UKGrassUnited States Zina GarrisonCzechoslovakia Jana Novotná Czechoslovakia Helena Suková6–3 ret.
Win10–2Oct 1989Brighton, UKCarpetUnited States Lori McNeilAustralia Hana Mandlíková Czechoslovakia Jana Novotná4–6, 7–6(9–7), 6–4
Win11–2Oct 1989Indianapolis, USHard (i)United States Lori McNeilWest Germany Claudia Porwik Soviet Union Larisa Savchenko6–4, 6–4
Loss11–3Nov 1990Indianapolis, USHard (i)Canada Jill HetheringtonUnited States Patty Fendick United States Meredith McGrath1–6, 1–6
Loss11–4Feb 1991Oklahoma City, USHard (i)Canada Jill HetheringtonUnited States Meredith McGrath United States Anne Smith2–6, 4–6
Loss11–5Jul 1991Westchester, USHardUnited States Lori McNeilSouth Africa Rosalyn Fairbank South Africa Lise Gregory5–7, 4–6
Win12–5Aug 1991Albuquerque, USHardFrance Isabelle DemongeotSouth Africa Lise Gregory United States Peanut Louie Harper6–7(2–7), 6–4, 6–3
Loss12–6Nov 1991Indianapolis, USHard (i)Argentina Mercedes PazUnited States Patty Fendick United States Gigi Fernández4–6, 2–6
Loss12–7Feb 1992Chicago, USCarpetUnited States Zina GarrisonUnited States Martina Navratilova United States Pam Shriver4–6, 6–7(7–9)
Loss12–8Feb 1992Oklahoma City, USHard (i)Netherlands Manon BollegrafUnited States Lori McNeil Australia Nicole Provis6–3, 4–6, 6–7(6–8)
Win13–8Nov 1992Indianapolis, USHard (i)South Africa Elna ReinachUnited States Sandy Collins United States Mary-Lou Daniels5–7, 6–2, 6–4
Win14–8Feb 1993Chicago, USCarpetUnited States Zina GarrisonUnited States Amy Frazier United States Kimberly Po7–6(9–7), 6–3
Loss14–9Feb 1993Oklahoma City, USHard (i)Netherlands Manon BollegrafUnited States Patty Fendick United States Zina Garrison3–6, 2–6
Win15–9Mar 1993Houston, USClayNetherlands Manon BollegrafRussia Eugenia Maniokova Slovakia Radomira Zrubáková6–3, 5–7, 7–6(9–7)
Loss15–10Mar 1993Hilton Head, USClayNetherlands Manon BollegrafUnited States Gigi Fernández Belarus Natalia Zvereva3–6, 1–6
Win16–10Nov 1993Quebec City, CanadaHard (i)Netherlands Manon BollegrafBulgaria Katerina Maleeva France Nathalie Tauziat6–4, 6–4
Win17–10Nov 1993Philadelphia, USCarpetNetherlands Manon BollegrafSpain Conchita Martínez Latvia Larisa Neiland6–2, 4–6, 7–6(9–7)
Loss17–11Feb 1994Oklahoma City, USHard (i)Netherlands Manon BollegrafUnited States Patty Fendick United States Meredith McGrath6–7(3–7), 2–6
Loss17–12Mar 1994Houston, USClayUnited States Zina GarrisonNetherlands Manon Bollegraf United States Martina Navratilova4–6, 2–6
Loss17–13Feb 1995Oklahoma City, USHard (i)Netherlands Brenda SchultzUnited States Nicole Arendt Italy Laura Golarsa4–6, 3–6
Loss17–14Oct 1995Oakland, USCarpetUnited States Zina GarrisonUnited States Lori McNeil Czech Republic Helena Suková6–3, 4–6, 3–6
Loss17–15Feb 1996Oklahoma City, USHard (i)United States Debbie GrahamUnited States Chanda Rubin Netherlands Brenda Schultz-McCarthy4–6, 3–6
Win18–15May 1996Budapest, HungaryClayUnited States Debbie GrahamCzech Republic Radka Bobková Czech Republic Eva Melicharová6–3, 7–6(7–3)
Win19–15May 1996Cardiff, UKClaySouth Africa Mariaan de SwardtBelgium Els Callens Belgium Laurence Courtois6–0, 6–4
Win20–15Jun 1997Birmingham, UKGrassLatvia Larisa NeilandFrance Nathalie Tauziat United States Linda Wild6–2, 6–3
Loss20–16Jan 1998Sydney, AustraliaHardUnited States Meredith McGrathSwitzerland Martina Hingis Czech Republic Helena Suková1–6, 2–6

ITF finals

Singles (1–1)

ResultNo.DateTournamentSurfaceOpponentScore
Loss1.August 3, 1987Lebanon, United StatesHardUnited States Shaun Stafford6–3, 1–6, 3–6
Win2.January 21, 1991New Braunfels, United StatesHardArgentina María Luciana Reynares7–6(7), 2–6, 6–2

Doubles (8–3)

ResultNo.DateTournamentSurfacePartnerOpponentsScore
Win1.June 30, 1986Tampa, United StatesClayMexico Heliane StedenUnited States Brenda Niemeyer United States Karen Schimper4–6, 6–1, 6–3
Win2.July 14, 1986Midland, United StatesClayUnited States Sonia HahnAustralia Alison Scott New Zealand Ruth Seeman2–6, 6–3, 6–4
Win3.January 5, 1987Chicago, United StatesHardUnited States Diane DonnellyUnited States Mary Lou Daniels South Africa Yvonne Vermaak6–4, 6–3
Loss4.June 15, 1987Birmingham, United StatesHardUnited States Sonia HahnNetherlands Ingelise Driehuis South Africa Lise Gregory6–7(0), 6–4, 6–2
Win5.July 20, 1987Philadelphia, United StatesHardNetherlands Ingelise DriehuisUnited States Kathy Foxworth United States Tammy Whittington6–3, 6–4
Win6.July 27, 1987Chatham, United StatesHardUnited States Diane DonnellyUnited States Jennifer Fuchs Australia Robyn Lamb7–5, 6–3
Win7.September 24, 1990Chicago, United StatesHardUnited States Lynn NaborsCanada Jill Hetherington United States Mary Lou Daniels6–4, 6–4
Loss8.January 28, 1991Midland, United StatesHardCanada Helen KelesiUnited States Meredith McGrath United States Anne Smith5–7, 5–7
Win9.September 23, 1991Chicago, United StatesHardUnited States Mary Lou DanielsUnited States Beverly Bowes-Hackney United States Cammy Macgregor6–4, 6–3
Loss10.February 12, 1996Midland, United StatesHardUnited States Debbie GrahamUnited States Angela Lettiere United States Corina Morariu6–7, 6–7
Win11.October 7, 1996Sedona, United StatesHardUnited States Debbie GrahamUnited States Angela Lettiere United States Shannan McCarthy6–4, 6–1

Performance timelines

Key
WFSFQF#RRRQ#DNQANH

Singles

Tournament19871988198919901991199219931994199519961997W–L
Grand Slam tournaments
Australian OpenA1R2R1RA3RQ2Q1Q1A1R4–8
French OpenA1R1RQ2Q21RQ1Q3A1RQ14–9
WimbledonA4R3R1RQ22RQ11R1R2RQ218–10
US OpenQ21R1R1RQ3A1R1R3R1RQ37–10

Doubles

Tournament19861987198819891990199119921993199419951996199719981999W–L
Grand Slam tournaments
Australian OpenAA3R3R3RAQF3R2R1RA2R1R1R13–10
French OpenAAQFQF3R3RQFQF1RQFQF2R3R1R25–12
WimbledonAASFQF3RQF3R1R2R3RQF3R3R1R23–12
US Open1R1R2R3R3RQFA3RQF3R2R3R2R1R19–13

External links