"I tell Chris Evert I'm aching and she's kicking me out the door" - When American's ex-husband Greg Norman revealed how she helped him with his career
Chris Evert's ex-husband Greg Norman once revealed how she helped him with his career. Norman, a former Australian golf pro, spent 331 weeks as World No. 1 and won two Majors: The Open Championship in 1986 and 1993.
Evert had previously been married to fellow tennis player John Lloyd and Alpine ski racer Andy Mill before announcing her engagement to Mill's best friend Norman in 2007. They exchanged vows six months later but called it quits in 2009. The golfer had ended his 25-year marriage to Laura Andrassy to be with the American.
In a 2009 interview with the Daily Mail, before he participated in The Open, Greg Norman talked about his then-wife, Chris Evert. He mentioned how the 18-time Grand Slam champion told him she might have been more successful if she had met him earlier, and he felt the same way about his career.
"She [Chris Evert] just said to me the other day, 'I've never met anyone with your drive and determination and if I'd had that behind me I would have been more successful,'" Norman said.
"I feel the same way. I probably wouldn't have played quite so aggressively if I'd had the benefit of Chrissie's game management skills and probably won more," the Aussie added.
Norman also mentioned how Chris Evert helped him prepare for the British Major, always encouraging him to practice more, even when he didn't feel like it.
"When you're a successful athlete, you can spot what is in the other person that makes them great and you can add your own qualities," the 69-year-old said, adding, "Chrissie is the one who has been geeing me up for this Open. I tell her I'm aching from practising and she's kicking me out the door, telling me to practise some more."
Chris Evert on divorce with Greg Norman: "Never in a million years did I imagine it would end up like this"
In a 2010 interview with Woman's Day Magazine, Chris Evert discussed her divorce from ex-husband Greg Norman. She said she never imagined it would happen, but they both had different priorities.
Their separation was announced just three days before Norman was set to captain the International team at the Presidents Cup in San Francisco, where captains' wives have prominent roles.
"I had no idea it was coming," Evert said. "It wasn't talked about, ever. Never in a million years did I imagine it would end up like this. It was our priorities and our lifestyles. I wanted roots and he wanted wings."
The 18-time Major champion added that she missed her family time with Andy Mill, with whom she shares three sons: Alexander, Nicholas, and Colton. She also mentioned missing Norman's parents.
"I miss my family time with Andy and the kids," Chris Evert said. "That was 20 years of history. Probably the best years of my life. I also really miss Greg's parents. The best part about him are his parents. They are great people. They're very down to earth and level headed. I always got along great with them."