| Country (sports) | United States |
|---|---|
| Residence | Yonkers, New York, United States |
| Born | (1968-08-05)August 5, 1968 (age 57) |
| Height | 5 ft 5 in (1.65 m) |
| Turned pro | 1988 |
| Retired | 1999 |
| Plays | Right-handed (two-handed backhand) |
| Prize money | $1,294,235 |
| Singles | |
| Career record | 182–194 |
| Career titles | 0 WTA, 1 ITF |
| Highest ranking | No. 67 (May 8, 1989) |
| Grand Slam singles results | |
| Australian Open | 3R (1992) |
| French Open | 1R (1988, 1989, 1992, 1996) |
| Wimbledon | 4R (1988) |
| US Open | 3R (1995) |
| Doubles | |
| Career record | 419–226 |
| Career titles | 20 WTA, 7 ITF |
| Highest ranking | No. 8 (August 14, 1989) |
| Grand Slam doubles results | |
| Australian Open | QF (1992) |
| French Open | QF (1988, 1989, 1992, 1993, 1995, 1996) |
| Wimbledon | SF (1988) |
| US Open | QF (1991, 1994) |
Katrina M. Adams (born August 5, 1968) is an American tennis executive and former professionaltennis player fromChicago. She was president and CEO of theUnited States Tennis Association and chair of theUS Open, as well as the chair of theInternational 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 fourGrand 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.
Adams joined a tennis program on Chicago'sWest Side when she was six years old. She attendedWhitney Young High School, becoming theIllinois High School Association's first Chicago Public School and first African American singles champion in 1983 and 1984.[1] While attendingNorthwestern University, she won theNational Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) doubles title withDiane Donnelly in 1987,[2] and was twice votedAll-American.[3]
Adams won seven of her 20WTA doubles titles between 1987 and 1996 partneringZina Garrison, including the1988 World Doubles Championships.[4]
Her best Grand Slam singles result was in the1988 Wimbledon Championships when she reached the fourth round, losing in three sets toChris Evert. The same year, she wasWimbledon doubles semifinalist with Zina Garrison.
Adams twice won the annualWTA 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]
Adams has been a television commentator for theTennis Channel since 2003,[6] a regular contributor toCBS Sports Network all-female sports panelWe 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 theUnited States Tennis Association, becoming the first former professional tennis player, firstAfrican-American.[8]
In 2016, Adams became Chairperson of the International Tennis Federation (ITF) Fed Cup committee, which governs theFed Cup.[9]
Adams also serves on the board of directors for theInternational Tennis Hall of Fame.[10]
| 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) |
| Result | W-L | Date | Tournament | Surface | Opponent | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loss | 0–1 | Feb 1988 | Wellington, New Zealand | Hard | 6–1, 6–1 | |
| Loss | 0–2 | Nov 1991 | Brentwood, US | Hard (i) | 6–2, 6–4 |
| 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) |
| Result | No. | Date | Tournament | Surface | Opponent | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loss | 1. | August 3, 1987 | Lebanon, United States | Hard | 6–3, 1–6, 3–6 | |
| Win | 2. | January 21, 1991 | New Braunfels, United States | Hard | 7–6(7), 2–6, 6–2 |
| Result | No. | Date | Tournament | Surface | Partner | Opponents | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Win | 1. | June 30, 1986 | Tampa, United States | Clay | 4–6, 6–1, 6–3 | ||
| Win | 2. | July 14, 1986 | Midland, United States | Clay | 2–6, 6–3, 6–4 | ||
| Win | 3. | January 5, 1987 | Chicago, United States | Hard | 6–4, 6–3 | ||
| Loss | 4. | June 15, 1987 | Birmingham, United States | Hard | 6–7(0), 6–4, 6–2 | ||
| Win | 5. | July 20, 1987 | Philadelphia, United States | Hard | 6–3, 6–4 | ||
| Win | 6. | July 27, 1987 | Chatham, United States | Hard | 7–5, 6–3 | ||
| Win | 7. | September 24, 1990 | Chicago, United States | Hard | 6–4, 6–4 | ||
| Loss | 8. | January 28, 1991 | Midland, United States | Hard | 5–7, 5–7 | ||
| Win | 9. | September 23, 1991 | Chicago, United States | Hard | 6–4, 6–3 | ||
| Loss | 10. | February 12, 1996 | Midland, United States | Hard | 6–7, 6–7 | ||
| Win | 11. | October 7, 1996 | Sedona, United States | Hard | 6–4, 6–1 |
| W | F | SF | QF | #R | RR | Q# | DNQ | A | NH |
| Tournament | 1987 | 1988 | 1989 | 1990 | 1991 | 1992 | 1993 | 1994 | 1995 | 1996 | 1997 | W–L | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grand Slam tournaments | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Australian Open | A | 1R | 2R | 1R | A | 3R | Q2 | Q1 | Q1 | A | 1R | 4–8 | ||||||||||||
| French Open | A | 1R | 1R | Q2 | Q2 | 1R | Q1 | Q3 | A | 1R | Q1 | 4–9 | ||||||||||||
| Wimbledon | A | 4R | 3R | 1R | Q2 | 2R | Q1 | 1R | 1R | 2R | Q2 | 18–10 | ||||||||||||
| US Open | Q2 | 1R | 1R | 1R | Q3 | A | 1R | 1R | 3R | 1R | Q3 | 7–10 | ||||||||||||
| Tournament | 1986 | 1987 | 1988 | 1989 | 1990 | 1991 | 1992 | 1993 | 1994 | 1995 | 1996 | 1997 | 1998 | 1999 | W–L | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grand Slam tournaments | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Australian Open | A | A | 3R | 3R | 3R | A | QF | 3R | 2R | 1R | A | 2R | 1R | 1R | 13–10 | |||||||||
| French Open | A | A | QF | QF | 3R | 3R | QF | QF | 1R | QF | QF | 2R | 3R | 1R | 25–12 | |||||||||
| Wimbledon | A | A | SF | QF | 3R | QF | 3R | 1R | 2R | 3R | QF | 3R | 3R | 1R | 23–12 | |||||||||
| US Open | 1R | 1R | 2R | 3R | 3R | QF | A | 3R | QF | 3R | 2R | 3R | 2R | 1R | 19–13 | |||||||||