Diversity Woman – Tennis Everyone?:
Katrina Adams, the new chief of the USTA and the first African American in that role, faces challenges galore in growing the sport. The ball is in her court.
Katrina Adams, the new chair of the board, CEO, and president of the United States Tennis Association—and a former tour player—doesn’t play tennis regularly anymore. It’s not because she is too old (she’s 46) or has any physical ailments that keep her from playing. These days, she doesn’t pick up a racquet because she’s too competitive and refuses to lose even a friendly match.
“People say all the time, ‘Hey, Kat, let’s go out and hit!’” she says. “I’m like, ‘Dude, I haven’t played. I’m not getting on the court with you!’ I can’t go on the court with all these people when I’m not ready to roll.”
That competitiveness and perfectionism should serve her well. Adams is the first former professional tennis player and first African American to lead the USTA. Based in White Plains, a suburb north of New York City, the USTA is the national nonprofit governing body for the sport of tennis and owns and operates the U.S. Open, one of the four grand-slam tournaments. Its mission is to support and promote the game, from regional junior tournaments to the national team.
Adams’s task is daunting. In recent years, the reputation of the United States on the international circuit has taken a hit, as other countries have passed it by, placing more players in the top hundred rankings. Talk about a competitive challenge—Adams’s charge is no less than bringing the United States back to, or at least into volley range of, its elevated perch during the glory years of the 1960s, ’70s, and ’80s. This is a lofty goal, and believe it or not, serving as the head of the USTA is a volunteer position.
Given her pedigree as a former tour player who has garnered the respect of her peers, her position as head of the Harlem Junior Tennis and Education Program, and her finely honed leadership skills, Adams has a fighting chance.
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