Ginger Helgeson (born September 14, 1968) is a former American professional tennis player, who is considered to be perhaps the greatest player ever to come out of
Minnesota.[1] She reached her highest singles ranking on January 2, 1995, when she became the No. 29 in the world. In doubles, she reached No. 38 in the same year, on January 9.
Tennis career
Helgeson-Nielsen was born in
St. Cloud, Minnesota, before moving to
Edina after seventh grade. She was coached by her brother, Brace, throughout juniors and high school.[1] She attended
Edina High School and became a three-time consecutive Minnesota state singles champion,[2] and was ranked No. 1 by the
USTA Northern at all levels.[3]
Helgeson-Nielsen then received a scholarship to attend
Pepperdine University in
Malibu, California. Whilst there, she was a four-year letter winner and a three-time All American, and holds the all-time best career winning percentage.[3]
She played professionally from 1987, spending her first few years on the
ITF Women's Circuit. Her best season was in 1994, winning her first WTA title in
Auckland and reaching the fourth round of the Australian and U.S. Opens. At the latter event, she beat reigning Wimbledon champion
Conchita Martínez for her biggest career victory.[4] Her ranking hit the top 30 as a result of her breakthrough season. She reached the final of Auckland again in 1995, but a serious wrist injury at a tournament in
Amelia Island put her out for the rest of the 1995 season.[4] She returned in March 1996, but wasn't able to make it back into the top 100 in singles. She played her last match at the US Open qualifying tournament in 1998, where she reached the second round.
In 2009, she was inducted into the USTA Northern Hall of Fame,[3] having already been inducted into the Pepperdine Athletic Hall of Fame in 2008.[5] Helgeson-Nielsen now lives in
Alpine, California,[1] with her two boys. She runs her own professional tennis instruction business.[1]