Katrina Adams to be Tennis Association's 1st black CEO

• Adams said her number one goal in 2015 is to focus on making tennis even more diverse.
• Adams has served as the USTA%27s first vice president since 2013.
• During her professional tennis years she ranked as high as No. 67 in singles and No. 8 in doubles

Katrina M. Adams' career trajectory proves that it pays to tag along with an older brother.

That's how the White Plains resident originally got introduced to tennis, a passion that has led her to assuming the United States Tennis Association's top post in January. When Adams assumes the position she'll log three milestones at the USTA as the group's youngest, the first former pro tennis player and the first black CEO.

She called the third milestone "enormous."

"We've been a sport criticized for being lily white, a country club sport. Even 25 years ago that's what we were, but we have grown and changed over the years to be more inclusive and diverse," said Adams, 46.

Adams said her number one goal in 2015 is to focus on making tennis even more diverse.

"We've had success with African Americans and Asians, but we haven't been able to penetrate the Hispanic community," she said.

Adams has served as the USTA's first vice president since 2013. She said her proudest achievement she shares with fellow USTA board members is a new tennis development center in Orlando, Florida, that is expected to open in late 2016 with 100 tennis courts for the group's community tennis and player development divisions.

Adams' love affair with the sport began as a child in Chicago.

"I stumbled upon it when I was six. It was a summer activity sponsored by the Boys Club. My brothers were part of the program and I was a tag-along sister," said Adams, who played professionally on the WTA tour for 12 years.

During her professional tennis years she ranked as high as No. 67 in singles and No. 8 in doubles, according to the USTA website.

Adams is a USTA volunteer, so she'll be an unpaid CEO. At her day job, Adams is the executive director of the Harlem Junior Tennis and Education Program, which works with high-risk, low-income youth in New York City.

Adams is single and she divides her time between homes in White Plains and Florida. She's lived in White Plains about nine years and said she enjoys it.

"I call it a mini-Manhattan because of what it offers with restaurants and shopping," she said, adding that Westchester County also has a great tennis scene, though she doesn't play much. "Just by communicating with my friends it seems to be extremely vibrant and active. There is a new tennis center at Lifetime Fitness, so hopefully that will bring new opportunities for youth."

10 things you may not know about Katrina:

1. She serves as a rotating co-host on the CBS Sports Network's "We Need to Talk" program.

2. She captured 20 career doubles titles.

3. She attended Northwestern University as an undergraduate and majored in communications.

4. She helped the Wildcats, her college tennis team, reach Big Ten championships in 1986.

5. She was an NCAA All-American in 1986 and 1987, and in 1987 became the first black NCAA doubles champion.

6. She has been inducted into the Northwestern Hall of Fame.

7. In 2012 she was inducted into the Black Tennis Hall of Fame.

8. Despite her superior hand-eye coordination, she can't play any musical instruments.

9. She studied Spanish for seven years in high school and college, but has lost her ability to speak it for lack of practice.

10. She has worked as a tennis analyst for the Tennis Channel.

Twitter: @ErnieJourno