Betsy
Nagelsen McCormack
Mark H.
and Betsy Nagelsen McCormack formed a husband and wife
team whose vision, dedication and generosity have created countless
new opportunities in women's tennis. With their gift of
the McCormack-Nagelsen Tennis Center at the College of William
& Mary, they have provided an ideal home for the intercollegiate
Tennis Association's Women's Hall of Fame and an inspiring site
for future champions.
Betsy Nagelsen McCormack has made her mark on women's tennis as an
internationally ranked player, setting a standard of sportsmanship
for younger champions to emulate. The world's top junior
player in 1973 and winner of the prestigious USTA Girls' Sportsmanship
Award, Nagelsen became known for her powerful serve-and-volley
game, scoring singles victories over Chris Evert, Martina Navratilova,
and Arantxa
Sanchez Vicario, among others,
along with winning more than 30 major singles and doubles titles.
She was a four-time member of the U.S. Wightman Cup Team in 1974,
1985, 1988 and 1989.
Playing in her 20th consecutive main
draw at Wimbledon in 1993, Nagelsen won the over-35 women's doubles
championship, and went on to win back-to-back titles in the U.S.
Open Senior women's doubles in 1993 and 1994. At the same
time she continued to contribute her expertise as a regular tennis
commentator for American television networks ABC and ESPN, and
for Australia's Channel Nine.
In 1975, as Women's World Doubles Champion,
she received the largest prize money (with partner Wendy Turnbull) in the history of women's tennis
With Millie Mest (left)
Career Highlights
World's No.1 Ranked Junior Player
1973
U.S. Champion Girls' 16 Singles
1973
U.S. Clay Court Champion Girls'
18 Doubles 1973
Winner of USTA Maureen Connolly
Brinker Award 1973
Winner of USTA Girls' Sportsmanship
Trophy 1974
U.S. Wightman Cup Team Member
1974, 1985, 1988, 1989 (3-1 record)
Competed on WTA tour for 21 years
Swiss Open Singles Champion 1976;
Doubles 1978
Australian Open Doubles Champion
1978, 1980
Swedish Open Doubles Champion
1978
Japan Open Singles Champion 1979;
Doubles 1979, 1987
World Mixed Doubles Champion
1982, 1984
Women's World Doubles Champion
1985, receiving the largest prize money (with partner Wendy Turnbull) in the history of women's tennis
European Open Doubles Champion
1986, 1987
Canadian Open Doubles Champion
1990
Wimbledon Over-35 Doubles Champion
1993
U.S. Open Over-35 Doubles Champion
1993, 1994
Television commentator for ABC,
ESPN, and Australia's Channel Nine
|