Katrina Adams announced that she will become the USTA chairman, CEO and president starting on Jan. 1, 2015.
The former doubles standout will be the first African-American president of the USTA, as well as the first former tour pro in the position. Adams succeeds president Dave Haggerty.
The 46-year-old Adams won 20 career doubles titles and reached No. 8 in the world in doubles and No. 67 in singles. Armed with one of the tour’s best overheads, Adams played with a series of great players including Zina Garrison, Lori McNeil, Pam Shriver and Manon Bollegraf. Adams reached the Wimbledon semifinals in doubles and the round of 16 in singles. She was honored with the WTA’s Player Service Award in 1996 and 1997.
Adams grew up in Chicago, and attended Whitney Young High School as well as Northwestern University. After she retired she worked at youth tennis initiatives, in television and for Tennis Magazine, and also served as the executive director of the Harlem Junior Tennis and Education Program.
The USTA named the rest of the officers and directors, including former players Tommy Ho, Todd Martin, Chanda Rubin and Lauren Barnikow. Others are: Andy Andrews, Patrick Galbraith, Don Tisdel, Fabrizio Alcobe-Fierro, Joan Baker, Mark Ein, Michael McNulty, Andrew Valdez and Kathleen Wu.