Review by Booklist Review
Adams offers a wealth of leadership lessons drawing from her early years growing up on Chicago's West Side, playing park-district tennis, to leading Northwestern University to a Big Ten championship before launching a professional tennis career where, in 1989, she ranked eighth in the world in doubles, having won 20 Women's Tennis Association doubles titles. Upon retiring as a professional, she pursued a career as a coach and sports broadcaster before leading the prestigious United States Tennis Association, where she is the immediate past president. An industry trailblazer, Adams is not only the youngest person to hold that presidency, but also the first African American. Own the Arena serves as a masterful blueprint for leadership development, as revealed by Adams' unique journey. She notes that leadership is "not a singular pursuit" but an opportunity to enable others to rise to their full potential, and she demonstrates a commitment to reaching back and pulling people forward. Tennis fans will enjoy a box-seat view into the life of a professional tennis player, the sport's governance, and the unique perspective of staging tournaments like the U.S. Open. A timely contribution for collections on leadership, as well as on gender equality, diversity, and inclusion.
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
Adams, former president of the United States Tennis Association, shares in her strong debut the leadership skills she gained as an executive in a business where "I was the only woman, only black woman, or only person of color." She sprinkles pearls of wisdom throughout, most of which are condensed into 12 aphorisms--"own the table," "own your successes"--that begin the book. Tennis fans will especially appreciate the lengthy, behind-the-scenes look at the U.S. Open, an event Adams organized every year during her tenure as president (2015--2018); she discusses handling the complexities of the event ("We put on the Super Bowl every day for fourteen days") and the dramatic 2018 match between Naomi Osaka and Serena Williams that ended in boos due to a controversial call. She also covers her progression through the organization, from committee leader to chairman, v-p, then president, and her successful attempts to diversify the game by nurturing upcoming talent from underserved communities. Adams especially shines when recalling the unwavering support of family, mentors, and coaches who supported her along the way. This memoir inspires. (Feb.)
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Review by Library Journal Review
Tennis is a global sport and one of the leaders in that sport is former USTA President and CEO Adams: the first Black woman, first former professional tennis player, and youngest person to serve in this role. In this debut, Adams writes about falling in love with tennis as well as the highlights of her life and career. Tennis fans will appreciate the insight offered from one of the leaders in the sport, including a firsthand account of the 2018 U.S. Open women's final between Serena Williams and Naomi Osaka. Along the way, she also shares what it means to be a champion in the highly competitive world of tennis, and succeeding as a doubles player. The author also writes about difficult situations in her career, such as withdrawing from tournaments to attend her grandfather's funeral, and how she navigated them. Her insight and experience as both a tennis player and a sports executive are invaluable and important to be shared. There are few Black women in prominent leadership roles in sports, and Adams is a role model for many. VERDICT Recommended for tennis fans and readers interested in women in leadership positions in sports.--Pamela Calfo, Bridgeville P.L., PA
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Review by Kirkus Book Review
Former United States Tennis Association president Adams reflects on her career and the lessons she has learned. Never a superstar but always a solid player, the author began playing tennis as a 6-year-old in Chicago and turned pro in 1987, after two years at Northwestern. She retired as a singles player in 1998 and as a doubles player a couple years later. She went on to coach tennis; in 2003, she became a commentator on the Tennis Channel after asking aloud, "How can you not have a diverse analyst when your No. 1 and 2 players in the world are African American?" In 2015, she became the youngest person, the first former player, and the first African American to head the USTA as well as the first person to serve two two-year terms in the role. Eschewing a straightforward chronological narrative, the author arranges the book by topic. A chapter on her experience playing doubles segues into a discussion on how to collaborate with other people in various business settings, and one on her work with the Harlem Junior Tennis and Education Program expands to cover the stories of several of the kids who have benefitted from it. Throughout the book, Adams pays tribute to her many mentors and coaches and the "sheroes" who have inspired her, including Billie Jean King and Althea Gibson, as well as her thoughts on star players like Venus and Serena Williams. The author comes across as reserved rather than revealing. While she sprinkles in amusing anecdotes about jokes she and her tennis buddies played on each other and hints at disappointment that she does not have a romantic partner, readers shouldn't expect any shocking revelations. For the majority of the text, Adams focuses on sharing what she has learned along the way. A modest, likable, and encouraging account of a life in progress. Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
