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Ilana Kloss was the world's best doubles player in 1976, winning doubles titles at the US Open, Italian Open, US Clay Courts, German Open, British Hard Courts and Hilton Head. That same year, Kloss also captured the French Open Mixed Doubles crown. The youngest player ever to be ranked No. 1 in her native South Africa, Kloss gained notoriety around the tennis world capturing both the Wimbledon and US Open Juniors titles before turning professional.
Currently, Kloss is the Chief Executive Officer/Commissioner of World TeamTennis (WTT), overseeing the 10-team WTT Pro League and the nation-wide grassroots Recreational League programs from her New York City office. Kloss' primary focus is on national sponsorships, strategic planning, media partnerships and expansion of the Pro League.
Kloss started with WTT in 1974 as a player for the San Francisco Golden Gaters and returned to the league in 1981 with the Oakland Breakers. Kloss went on to play for WTT franchises in Long Beach, Calif.; Miami Beach, Fla., and Oakland, Calif., during the 80s. She even coached the Chicago Fyre to the WTT Championship in 1983.
Her on-court role with WTT soon evolved into an even more significant position off the court as WTT Player Liaison in 1985. Kloss took over as the WTT Vice President in 1987 and eventually succeeded Billie Jean King as WTT Executive Director in 1991. Kloss was named as CEO/Commissioner in February 2001.
In addition to her full-time duties at World TeamTennis, Kloss is involved in a number of activities off the court. Kloss currently serves as Chair of the Board of Trustees for the Women's Sports Foundation (elected September 2006) and is the Chair of Strategic Planning for the WSF’s Development Committee. She has served on the board of the Women’s Tennis Association and currently serves on the executive boards of the Elton John AIDS Foundation and WTT Charities and is also a member of the USTA Pro Circuits Committee.
Kloss has been recognized for her work in advancing women's sports and her accomplishments on and off the court. She was named as the “Sports Business Woman of the Year” by the Warsaw Sports Marketing Center in May 2007. In 2006, Kloss was inducted into the National Jewish Sports Hall of Fame.
Kloss oversees WTT Smash Hits, the annual charity event co-hosted by Billie Jean King and Elton John. Since its inception in 1993, nearly $9 million has been raised for the Elton John AIDS Foundation and local AIDS charities.
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