# Katrina Adams

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)
| Result | W-L | Date | Tournament | Surface | Opponent | Score |
| Loss | 0–1 | Feb 1988 | Wellington, New Zealand | Hard | Jill Hetherington | 6–1, 6–1 |
| Loss | 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)
| Result | W-L | Date | Tournament | Surface | Partner | Opponents | Score |
| Win | 1–0 | Dec 1987 | Guarujá, Brazil | Hard | Cheryl Jones | Jill Hetherington Mercedes Paz | 6–4, 4–6, 6–4 |
| Win | 2–0 | Mar 1988 | Boca Raton, US | Hard | Zina Garrison | Claudia Kohde-Kilsch Helena Suková | 4–6, 7–5, 6–4 |
| Loss | 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, 6–4 |
| Loss | 3–2 | Oct 1988 | Indianapolis, US | Hard (i) | Zina Garrison | Larisa Savchenko Natasha Zvereva | 2–6, 1–6 |
| Win | 4–2 | Nov 1988 | Tokyo, Japan | Carpet (i) | Zina Garrison | Gigi Fernández Robin White | 7–5, 7–5 |
| Win | 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, 6–4 |
| Win | 7–2 | Apr 1989 | Houston, US | Clay | Zina Garrison | Gigi Fernández Lori McNeil | 6–3, 6–4 |
| Win | 8–2 | May 1989 | Geneva, Switzerland | Clay | Lori McNeil | Larisa Savchenko Natalia Zvereva | 2–6, 6–3, 6–4 |
| Win | 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$^{(9–7)}$, 6–4 |
| Win | 11–2 | Oct 1989 | Indianapolis, US | Hard (i) | Lori McNeil | Claudia Porwik Larisa Savchenko | 6–4, 6–4 |
| Loss | 11–3 | Nov 1990 | Indianapolis, US | Hard (i) | Jill Hetherington | Patty Fendick Meredith McGrath | 1–6, 1–6 |
| Loss | 11–4 | Feb 1991 | Oklahoma City, US | Hard (i) | Jill Hetherington | Meredith McGrath Anne Smith | 2–6, 4–6 |
| Loss | 11–5 | Jul 1991 | Westchester, US | Hard | Lori McNeil | Rosalyn Fairbank Lise Gregory | 5–7, 4–6 |
| Win | 12–5 | Aug 1991 | Albuquerque, US | Hard | Isabelle Demongeot | Lise Gregory Peanut Louie Harper | 6–7$^{(2–7)}$, 6–4, 6–3 |
| Loss | 12–6 | Nov 1991 | Indianapolis, US | Hard (i) | Mercedes Paz | Patty Fendick Gigi Fernández | 4–6, 2–6 |
| Loss | 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, 6–4 |
| Win | 14–8 | Feb 1993 | Chicago, US | Carpet | Zina Garrison | Amy Frazier Kimberly Po | 7–6$^{(9–7)}$, 6–3 |
| Loss | 14–9 | Feb 1993 | Oklahoma City, US | Hard (i) | Manon Bollegraf | Patty Fendick Zina Garrison | 3–6, 2–6 |
| Win | 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, 1–6 |
| Win | 16–10 | Nov 1993 | Quebec City, Canada | Hard (i) | Manon Bollegraf | Katerina Maleeva Nathalie Tauziat | 6–4, 6–4 |
| Win | 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$^{(3–7)}$, 2–6 |
| Loss | 17–12 | Mar 1994 | Houston, US | Clay | Zina Garrison | Manon Bollegraf Martina Navratilova | 4–6, 2–6 |
| Loss | 17–13 | Feb 1995 | Oklahoma City, US | Hard (i) | Brenda Schultz | Nicole Arendt Laura Golarsa | 4–6, 3–6 |
| Loss | 17–14 | Oct 1995 | Oakland, US | Carpet | Zina Garrison | Lori McNeil Helena Suková | 6–3, 4–6, 3–6 |
| Loss | 17–15 | Feb 1996 | Oklahoma City, US | Hard (i) | Debbie Graham | Chanda Rubin Brenda Schultz-McCarthy | 4–6, 3–6 |
| Win | 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, 6–4 |
| Win | 20–15 | Jun 1997 | Birmingham, UK | Grass | Larisa Neiland | Nathalie Tauziat Linda Wild | 6–2, 6–3 |
| Loss | 20–16 | Jan 1998 | Sydney, Australia | Hard | Meredith McGrath | Martina Hingis Helena Suková | 1–6, 2–6 |

## ITF finals
### Singles (1–1)

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

## Performance timelines

Key :
| W | F | SF | QF | #R | RR | Q# | DNQ | A | NH |

### Singles

| 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 |

### Doubles

| 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 |