TENNIS.com Podcast

TENNIS.com Podcast


Anne Worcester on becoming UTR's president

October 02, 2019

"The chance to use use 35 years on all sides of pro tennis—the player side, the tournament side, the sponsor side, my Virginia Slims days and then the governing body side—to make a difference and grow the sport, using technology, was just sort of the chance of a lifetime."With over three decades of experience in pro tennis, Anne Worcester joins the TENNIS.com Podcast this week with co-hosts Nina Pantic and Irina Falconi. In the world of tennis, Worcester has done it all and shares her impressive path from recreational player to one of he most well-connected leaders in the game.Worcester became the first woman to be named the CEO of the WTA in 1994, making her the first female CEO of any major sports organization at the time. She then became the tournament director of the WTA Premier in New Haven in 1998, and remained the lead of the much-loved August event until it was sold to China earlier this year. Left to enjoy her first summer off in over 20 years, the highly-in-demand businesswoman was quickly named the president of UTR (Universal Tennis Rating). She tells all about her experiences running a prominent tournament on the WTA calendar, how she got made the transition to what she calls "APW 3.0" and what UTR is doing for the sport. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices