Finding Mastery with Dr. Michael Gervais

From Tennis Champion to Trailblazer | Katrina Adams

Sep 1, 2021

Katrina Adams, the first African American to lead the USTA and a former pro tennis player with 20 doubles titles, shares her inspiring journey. She discusses the emotional challenges of leadership in sports and the sacrifices women often make. Katrina emphasizes the role of mental well-being, particularly as athletes like Naomi Osaka shift the narrative. She highlights her groundbreaking tenure at the USTA, the importance of representation, and how personal stories can empower others. This trailblazer reflects on the significance of community support and self-discovery in achieving inner peace.

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INSIGHT

Experiencing Depression

Depression manifests as loneliness, particularly for those without close family.
Constant activity and to-do lists can help manage these feelings.

ANECDOTE

Personal Choices and Sacrifices

Katrina Adams chose not to have children, partly due to health issues and the demands of professional tennis.
Her strong will and dedication to her career also impacted her relationships.

INSIGHT

Owning the Arena

"Own the Arena" encourages owning one's presence in any situation.
It emphasizes confidence and taking control, despite being "the only one."

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This week’s conversation is with Katrina Adams, the first African American to lead the United States Tennis Association (USTA), the first two-term Chairman and President of said organization and the first former player to hold that honor.

Under her guidance, the USTA achieved a number of major milestones, including the opening of the 100 court USTA National Campus in Orlando, the strategic transformation of the $600 million USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows, N.Y. and an unprecedented outreach effort into underserved communities in an effort to share the sport of tennis with more people.

Prior to this role, Katrina competed for 12 years on the WTA Tour, winning 20 career doubles titles and reaching the quarterfinals or better in doubles at all four Grand Slam events.

Katrina’s hard work in tennis, leadership and philanthropy has earned her many accolades including: being named on Adweek magazine’s “Most Powerful Women in Sports” list twice (2016 and 2017), Forbes magazine’s “Most Powerful Women in Sports” list in 2017 and Ebony magazine’s “Power 100” list.

So, in short, Katrina is a flat-out trailblazer, and it’s why I was so excited to have this conversation.

We discuss her journey - the sacrifices she made to become head of the USTA, the obstacles she overcame while successfully leading an organization with 700,000+ members, and why athletes like Naomi Osaka are helping to evolve the narrative around mental wellbeing.

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