In 1996 played in the main draw of her 23rd consecutive Wimbledon
Won 25 doubles titles throughout the world including 2 Australian Opens
‘87 and ’89 Wimbledon Doubles Finalist
‘87 US Open Mixed Doubles finalist; won 1993 Wimbledon Over-35 Doubles, etc.
In 1994 broke the $1 million mark in career earnings
1973 - ranked as the world’s top junior player
Widow of Mark McCormack, founder of International Management Group (IMG), the sports and entertainment conglomerate; world’s largest athlete representation firm and largest producer of sports TV
guest bio
Strength On and Off the Tennis Court
Betsy Nagelsen McCormack and Daughter, Maggie
By Heather Salon
The 700 Club
CBN.com
– CHANGING SEASONS
Betsy Nagelsen McCormack has seen some changes in her life since her husband Mark died in 2003 after a cardiac arrest as a result of a medical procedure. Betsy’s faith has sustained her since her husband’s death. For Betsy, it is comforting to know that there is another life beyond this temporary one, and one day she will be reunited with Mark. She calls herself a homebody. Their daughter, Maggie, was only 5-years-old when her father died. This might have made his death easier for Maggie to handle. Right now, it is hard to know how Maggie feels, because all Maggie has really known is her mother. Betsy says that there is a lot of Mark in Maggie; however, she may be following in her mother’s footsteps. Maggie, who is now in the fifth grade, loved horses for a time, but has now taken an interest in playing tennis. Betsy couldn’t be more delighted.
SALVATION AT AGE 16 - TURNED PRO AT 18
Betsy grew up in Florida. When she was 6, friends of her parents had an extra ticket to a professional tennis match. She was mesmerized and began playing within three months. When Betsy was 16, she and a friend went Christmas shopping at the mall, and Betsy saw a display for the Living Bible. She flipped it open to Romans 8:28 and decided to buy the Bible for her mother. Two weeks later her mother was invited to a Thursday morning Bible study. As Betsy was on a modular school schedule and got out at 10:30 am on Thursdays, she went to the Bible study with her mother. They both accepted Jesus as their Savior at the first Bible study.
At 17, Betsy was ranked as the world’s top junior player, and she turned pro the next year in 1974. In those days Betsy says it was very different for the young players than it is today. Traveling with the other players on buses and trains through Europe, she learned many skills and developed character. Today tennis is big business with incredible pressures of choices, rankings, contracts, etc., placed on youngsters. Parents must become very wise although they may not have any training to guide their child and their goals may not always be the best.
HEALED AT A KATHRYN KUHLMAN MEETING
Betsy got to the finals of her first pro tournament, beating two top ten players and losing to Chris Everet in the final. The following week, at the U.S. Open, she lost in round 16 to Billy Jean King. A few days later she and Martina Navratilova (who had been the top European junior the year before when Betsy was the top U.S. junior) were messing around on the court. Betsy fell over the net, and two days later awoke in excruciating pain. Martina soon won the first of her 176 tournaments, while Betsy was hospitalized and told she needed surgery for a lesion on her vertebrae.
After months of medical care, Betsy and her mother attended a Kathryn Kuhlman meeting in Orlando. Kathryn pointed in Betsy’s direction and said, “Someone over here in a back brace is being healed.” The second time she said it, Betsy’s mother told her it was her. Betsy said if Kathryn said it a third time, she would know it was for her. It was said a third time and Betsy stood up. One of Kathryn’s staff prayed with her and from that day Betsy has had no back pain. (She has had nine knees surgeries and stress fractures in her foot, etc., but no back pain.)
The year 1990 was a true spiritual turning point for Betsy. She realized she needed to grow more in the Lord and had been baptized in the Holy Spirit years earlier in England when she prayed with some strong believers there. An injury in 1990 caused her to miss the Australian Open. Learning about spiritual warfare, she and some friends visited a service where an anointed minister laid hands on her and prayed. Being slain in the Spirit, Betsy was also set free of some troubling dreams.
CBN IS HERE FOR YOU!
Are you seeking answers in life? Are you hurting?
Are you facing a difficult situation?
A caring friend will be there to pray with you in your time of need.
