Donald Hunt 9y

Katrina Adams leads U.S. charge

Tennis

The USTA made history this past month by hiring Katrina Adams as the first African-American chairman, chief executive officer and president. The nonprofit tennis organization, which promotes and develops tennis for young people, is clearly breaking new ground in hiring Adams, a former professional tennis player and the youngest person ever in the top position.

Adams, 46, understands the sacrifices made for her to reach this level. She previously worked as the first vice president of the USTA in 2013-14. In addition, she was vice president in 2011-12 and from 2005 to 2010 served three straight two-year terms as the director at large. There aren't many African-Americans in high-profile positions in tennis, but Adams has a chance to put her stamp on the game. Moreover, she knows the USTA inside and out.

"It's exciting," said Adams, who was appointed to her position in January. "I think, for me, it's more about really going after my goals and trying to make a difference in this sport and in this country.

"I happen to be African-American. So that's a positive. On that side, I recognized even after I became an officer that I was the first person of color since Dwight Mosley was the secondary treasurer back in 1990, who would have been on track to become that president, who knew at the time it was right. Then, unfortunately, he passed away. So once I got the opportunity to have an officer behind my name, I knew I was carrying the torch for several people. I was really making an indentation into the books where history was concerned, but that wasn't my focus. It was really about having a dream and a desire to give back to the sport that has given me so much in my life."

Although her position with the USTA is unpaid, she serves as the executive director of the Harlem Junior Tennis and Education Program in New York City. In both roles, Adams is able to reach inner-city kids to get them involved with tennis at an early age.

"I've been there for nine years," Adams said. "We're 43 years young. Our program focuses on inner-city kids. It's providing them with an opportunity for tennis, tutoring, mentoring and life skills. We are an NJTL chapter of which resides under the USTA. We apply for grants through the foundation to help us with our mission, which is directly tied into their tennis and education mission. When I came here, we were serving 80 kids, and we now serve over 1,000 kids, and that's because of the relationships that we built with local organizations and other schools in the area."

Adams knows the importance of getting youngsters to participate in tennis. She grew up in Chicago, where she learned to play the game on a grassroots level.

"I was lucky and stumbled on it," she said. "It was a summer program. Dr. Martin Luther King Boys Club had a summer activity in tennis. My brothers were in the program. It was from ages 9 to 18. I was a tag-along sister. My parents were teachers. They were teaching summer school, so I had to tag along with them. I wasn't allowed on the court for the first couple weeks. I was begging to get out there. I knew after nagging for a couple weeks with the club supervisors and my parents, they let me play."

Adams started to embellish her tennis skills. She played high school tennis. She was a scholastic state champion in Illinois her junior and senior years.

She went on to play some outstanding tennis at Northwestern University. In 1986 and '87, she carried the Wildcats to the Big Ten championship. In 1986, Adams was presented with the ITA Rookie of the Year, and she received All-American honors. In 1987, Adams was the first African-American doubles champion.

After her college career, Adams played 12 years on the WTA Tour. She attained the No. 67 ranking in singles and No. 8 in doubles. She won 20 double titles on the pro tour.

Adams has used tennis to make a good life for herself. She holds a full-time job with the Harlem Junior Tennis and Education program. She is a broadcaster on the Tennis Channel. She works as an analyst for the CBS Sports Network's first all-female sports show. Her success has been connected to the USTA.

"I grew up in the USTA's junior circuit," Adams said. "I played in my very first national tournament in the summer in New Orleans. Then I started playing local tournaments and built my way up through national tournaments in every age group.

"I'm truly a product of [the USTA]. I was a national coach [1999-2002] when I retired from the tour for about four years. I think this uniquely makes me qualified to lead the organization."

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