kids encyclopedia robot

Katrina Adams facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts
Quick facts for kids
Katrina M. Adams
Katrina Adams.jpg
Country (sports) United States
Residence Yonkers, New York, United States
Born (1968-08-05) August 5, 1968 (age 56)
Chicago, Illinois
Height 5'5"
Turned pro 1988
Retired 1999
Plays Right-handed (two-handed backhand)
Prize money $1,294,235
Singles
Career record 182–194
Career titles 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 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 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.

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 Canada Jill Hetherington 6–1, 6–1
Loss 0–2 Nov 1991 Brentwood, US Hard (i) Belgium Sabine Appelmans 6–2, 6–4

Doubles 36 (22–14)

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 Hard United States Cheryl Jones Canada Jill Hetherington
Argentina Mercedes Paz
6–4, 4–6, 6–4
Win 2–0 Mar 1988 Boca Raton Hard United States Zina Garrison West Germany Claudia Kohde-Kilsch
Czechoslovakia Helena Suková
4–6, 7–5, 6–4
Win 3–0 Apr 1988 Amelia Island Clay United States Penny Barg United States Zina Garrison
West Germany Eva Pfaff
4–6, 6–2, 7–6(7–5)
Loss 3–1 Apr 1988 Houston Clay United States Zina Garrison United States Lori McNeil
United States Martina Navratilova
6–7(4–7), 6–2, 6–4
Win 4–1 Oct 1988 Indianapolis Hard (i) United States Zina Garrison Soviet Union Larisa Savchenko
Soviet Union Natasha Zvereva
6–2, 6–1
Loss 4–2 Nov 1988 Tokyo Carpet United States Zina Garrison United States Gigi Fernández
United States Robin White
7–5, 7–5
Win 5–2 Jan 1989 Tokyo Carpet United States Zina Garrison United States Mary Joe Fernández
West Germany Claudia Kohde-Kilsch
6–3, 3–6, 7–6(7–5)
Win 6–2 Feb 1989 San Antonio Hard United States Pam Shriver United States Patty Fendick
Canada Jill Hetherington
3–6, 6–1, 6–4
Win 7–2 Apr 1989 Houston Clay United States Zina Garrison United States Gigi Fernández
United States Lori McNeil
6–3, 6–4
Win 8–2 May 1989 Geneva Clay United States Lori McNeil Soviet Union Larisa Savchenko
Soviet Union Natalia Zvereva
2–6, 6–3, 6–4
Win 9–2 Jun 1989 Eastbourne Grass United States Zina Garrison Czechoslovakia Jana Novotná
Czechoslovakia Helena Suková
6–3 ret.
Win 10–2 Oct 1989 Brighton Carpet United States Lori McNeil Australia Hana Mandlíková
Czechoslovakia Jana Novotná
4–6, 7–6(9–7), 6–4
Win 11–2 Oct 1989 Indianapolis Hard (i) United States Lori McNeil West Germany Claudia Porwik
Soviet Union Larisa Savchenko
6–4, 6–4
Win 12–2 Nov 1990 Indianapolis Hard (i) Canada Jill Hetherington United States Patty Fendick
United States Meredith McGrath
6–1, 6–1
Loss 12–3 Feb 1991 Oklahoma City Hard (i) Canada Jill Hetherington United States Meredith McGrath
United States Anne Smith
6–2, 6–4
Loss 12–4 Jul 1991 Westchester Hard United States Lori McNeil South Africa Rosalyn Fairbank
South Africa Lise Gregory
7–5, 6–4
Loss 12–5 Aug 1991 Albuquerque Hard France Isabelle Demongeot South Africa Lise Gregory
United States Peanut Louie Harper
6–7(2–7), 6–4, 6–3
Win 13–5 Nov 1991 Indianapolis Hard (i) Argentina Mercedes Paz United States Patty Fendick
United States Gigi Fernández
6–4, 6–2
Loss 13–6 Feb 1992 Chicago Carpet United States Zina Garrison United States Martina Navratilova
United States Pam Shriver
6–4, 7–6(9–7)
Loss 13–7 Feb 1992 Oklahoma City Hard (i) Netherlands Manon Bollegraf United States Lori McNeil
Australia Nicole Provis
3–6, 6–4, 7–6(8–6)
Loss 13–8 Nov 1992 Indianapolis Hard (i) South Africa Elna Reinach United States Sandy Collins
United States Mary-Lou Daniels
5–7, 6–2, 6–4
Win 14–8 Feb 1993 Chicago Carpet United States Zina Garrison United States Amy Frazier
United States Kimberly Po
7–6(9–7), 6–3
Win 15–8 Feb 1993 Oklahoma City Hard (i) Netherlands Manon Bollegraf United States Patty Fendick
United States Zina Garrison
6–3, 6–2
Win 16–8 Mar 1993 Houston Clay Netherlands Manon Bollegraf Russia Eugenia Maniokova
Slovakia Radomira Zrubáková
6–3, 5–7, 7–6(9–7)
Win 17–8 Mar 1993 Hilton Head Clay Netherlands Manon Bollegraf United States Gigi Fernández
Belarus Natalia Zvereva
6–3, 6–1
Loss 17–9 Nov 1993 Quebec City Hard (i) Netherlands Manon Bollegraf Bulgaria Katerina Maleeva
France Nathalie Tauziat
6–4, 6–4
Win 18–9 Nov 1993 Philadelphia Carpet Netherlands Manon Bollegraf Spain Conchita Martínez
Latvia Larisa Neiland
6–2, 4–6, 7–6(9–7)
Win 19–9 Feb 1994 Oklahoma City Hard (i) Netherlands Manon Bollegraf United States Patty Fendick
United States Meredith McGrath
7–6(7–3), 6–2
Loss 19–10 Mar 1994 Houston Clay United States Zina Garrison Netherlands Manon Bollegraf
United States Martina Navratilova
6–4, 6–2
Loss 19–11 Feb 1995 Oklahoma City Hard (i) Netherlands Brenda Schultz United States Nicole Arendt
Italy Laura Golarsa
6–4, 6–3
Loss 19–12 Oct 1995 Oakland Carpet United States Zina Garrison United States Lori McNeil
Czech Republic Helena Suková
3–6, 6–4, 6–3
Loss 19–13 Feb 1996 Oklahoma City Hard (i) United States Debbie Graham United States Chanda Rubin
Netherlands Brenda Schultz-McCarthy
6–4, 6–3
Loss 19–14 May 1996 Budapest Clay United States Debbie Graham Czech Republic Radka Bobková
Czech Republic Eva Melicharová
6–3, 7–6(7–3)
Win 20–14 May 1996 Cardiff Clay South Africa Mariaan de Swardt Belgium Els Callens
Belgium Laurence Courtois
6–0, 6–4
Win 21–14 Jun 1997 Birmingham Grass Latvia Larisa Neiland France Nathalie Tauziat
United States Linda Wild
6–2, 6–3
Win 22–14 Jan 1998 Sydney Hard United States Meredith McGrath Switzerland Martina Hingis
Czech Republic Helena Suková
6–1, 6–2

ITF finals

Singles (1–1)

Result No. Date Tournament Surface Opponent Score
Loss 1. August 3, 1987 Lebanon, United States Hard United States Shaun Stafford 6–3, 1–6, 3–6
Win 2. January 21, 1991 New Braunfels, United States Hard Argentina 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 Mexico Heliane Steden United States Brenda Niemeyer
United States Karen Schimper
4–6, 6–1, 6–3
Win 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
Win 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
Loss 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
Win 5. July 20, 1987 Philadelphia, United States Hard Netherlands Ingelise Driehuis United States Kathy Foxworth
United States Tammy Whittington
6–3, 6–4
Win 6. July 27, 1987 Chatham, United States Hard United States Diane Donnelly United States Jennifer Fuchs
Australia Robyn Lamb
7–5, 6–3
Win 7. September 24, 1990 Chicago, United States Hard United States Lynn Nabors Canada Jill Hetherington
United States Mary Lou Daniels
6–4, 6–4
Loss 8. January 28, 1991 Midland, United States Hard Canada Helen Kelesi United States Meredith McGrath
United States Anne Smith
5–7, 5–7
Win 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
Loss 10. February 12, 1996 Midland, United States Hard United States Debbie Graham United States Angela Lettiere
United States Corina Morariu
6–7, 6–7
Win 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# A NH
(W) Won; (F) finalist; (SF) semifinalist; (QF) quarterfinalist; (#R) rounds 4, 3, 2, 1; (RR) round-robin stage; (Q#) qualification round; (A) absent; (NH) not held. SR=strike rate (events won/competed)

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 LQ LQ LQ A 1R 4–8
French Open A 1R 1R LQ LQ 1R LQ LQ A 1R LQ 4–9
Wimbledon A 4R 3R 1R LQ 2R LQ 1R 1R 2R LQ 18–10
US Open LQ 1R 1R 1R LQ A 1R 1R 3R 1R LQ 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

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Katrina Adams para niños

kids search engine
Katrina Adams Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.