# Ginger Helgeson-Nielsen

Ginger Helgeson (born September 14, 1968) is an American former professional tennis player, who is considered to be perhaps the greatest player ever to come out of Minnesota. 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 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. She attended Edina High School and became a three-time consecutive Minnesota state singles champion, and was ranked No. 1 by the USTA Northern at all levels.
Helgeson 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.
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. 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. 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 addition to her win over Martínez, she also recorded victories over Helena Suková, Mary Joe Fernández, Gigi Fernández, Anke Huber, Lori McNeil, Sabine Appelmans, Sabine Hack and Natasha Zvereva.
In 2009, she was inducted into the USTA Northern Hall of Fame, having already been inducted into the Pepperdine Athletic Hall of Fame in 2008. Helgeson now lives in Carlsbad, California, with husband, Vasili Panos. Ginger runs her own posture alignment therapy business, “Realign Design” practicing the Egoscue Method.

## WTA career finals

* Legend
* Grand Slam tournaments
* Virginia Slims
* Tier I
* Tier II
* Tier III
* Tier IV & V

### Singles: 1 title, 1 runner-up

| Result | W/L | Date | Tournament | Category | Surface | Opponent | Score |
| Win | 1–0 | Feb 1994 | Auckland, New Zealand | Tier IV | Hard | Inés Gorrochategui | 7–6$^{(7–4)}$, 6–3 |
| Loss | 1–1 | Feb 1995 | Auckland, New Zealand | Tier IV | Hard | Nicole Bradtke | 6–3, 2–6, 1–6 |

### Doubles: 2 runner-ups

| Result | W/L | Date | Tournament | Category | Surface | Partner | Opponents | Score |
| Loss | 0–1 | Aug 1992 | Schenectady, U.S. | Tier V | Hard | Shannan McCarthy | Alexia Dechaume Florencia Labat | 3–6, 6–1, 2–6 |
| Loss | 0–2 | Aug 1994 | San Diego Open, U.S. | Tier II | Hard | Rachel McQuillan | Jana Novotná Arantxa Sánchez Vicario | 3–6, 3–6 |

## Best Grand Slam results details

| | Australian Open | Australian Open |
| 1994 Australian Open |||
| Round | Opponent | Score |
| 1R | Veronika Martinek | 6–3, 6–2 |
| 2R | Kristie Boogert | 6–2, 6–0 |
| 3R | Anke Huber (7) | 3–6, 7–6$^{(12–10)}$, 6–4 |
| 4R | Kimiko Date (10) | 5–7, 1–6 |
| | French Open | French Open |
| 1992 French Open |||
| Round | Opponent | Score |
| 1R | Sophie Amiach | 6–4, 5–7, 6–4 |
| 2R | Nathalie Tauziat (12) | 6–3, 1–6, 3–6 |
| 1993 French Open |||
| Round | Opponent | Score |
| 1R | Silke Meier | 6–1, 4–6, 6–2 |
| 2R | Conchita Martínez (4) | 5–7, 2–6 |
| 1994 French Open |||
| Round | Opponent | Score |
| 1R | Elna Reinach | 4–6, 6–4, 6–3 |
| 2R | Conchita Martínez (3) | 2–6, 3–6 |
| | Wimbledon Championships | Wimbledon Championships |
| 1994 Wimbledon |||
| Round | Opponent | Score |
| 1R | Veronika Martinek | 6–3, 6–2 |
| 2R | Claire Wegink (LL) | 6–4, 6–0 |
| 3R | Amanda Coetzer (14) | 0–6, 3–6 |
| | US Open | US Open |
| 1994 US Open |||
| Round | Opponent | Score |
| 1R | Karin Kschwendt | 6–2, 6–1 |
| 2R | Åsa Carlsson | 6–1, 6–1 |
| 3R | Conchita Martínez (3) | 3–6, 6–4, 6–1 |
| 4R | Gigi Fernández | 3–6, 4–6 |