Background
Stafford was born in Ocala, Florida, but moved to Gainesville, Florida with her family when she was 11 years old.
Stafford was born in Ocala, Florida, but moved to Gainesville, Florida with her family when she was 11 years old.
She graduated from Buchholz High School in Gainesville, where she played for the Buchholz Bobcats high school tennis team
Her older sister, Nicole, played college tennis for the Clemson Tigers women"s tennis team Stafford accepted an athletic scholarship to attend the University of Florida in Gainesville, where she played for coach Andy Brandi"s Florida Gators women"s tennis team in National Collegiate Athletic Association (National Collegiate Athletic Association) competition in 1987 and 1988. As a s freshman, she was an individual singles finalist in the 1987 National Collegiate Athletic Association tournament, losing to Patty Fendick of the Stanford Cardinal women"s tennis team
As a sophomore, Stafford was the Number.
1 singles player for the Lady Gators" National Collegiate Athletic Association national runner-up team in 1988. She previously defeated top-seeded Ronni Reis of the Miami Hurricanes women"s team, 6–1, 7–6, in the 1988 National Collegiate Athletic Association semifinal.
She was a two-time All-American and a two-time first-team All-Southeastern Conference (Securities and Exchange Commission) selection, and was also the recipient of the 1987-1988 Honda Sports Award as the outstanding college women"s tennis player in the country. She was inducted into the University of Florida Athletic Hall of Fame as a "Gator Great" in 1999.
Stafford turned professional in 1989.
Her highest world singles ranking was Number. 48 on January 22, 1990. Her highest world doubles ranking was Number.
33 on May 16, 1994.
Her best Grand Slam singles tournament was the fourth round (round of sixteen) of the 1994 French Open. Her best Grand Slam doubles performance was reaching the quarterfinals (round of eight) of the 1994 Australian Open. Her career earnings totaled $786,504.
She is remembered for being an emotional and verbally expressive player on the Women's Tennis Association tour.
After retiring from Women's Tennis Association Tour, she was an assistant coach for the Duke Blue Devils women"s tennis team from 1997 to 1998. Duke reached the finals of the 1998 National Collegiate Athletic Association national championship tournament.
Stafford married physician Michael Beckish in July 1996. They live in Williamston, South Carolina, a suburb of Greenville.