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

ResultW/L DateTournamentCategorySurfaceOpponentScoreWin 1–0 Feb 1994 Auckland, New Zealand Tier IV Hard Inés Gorrochategui 7–6(7–4), 6–3Loss 1–1 Feb 1995 Auckland, New Zealand Tier IV Hard Nicole Bradtke 6–3, 2–6, 1–6

Doubles: 2 runner-ups ResultW/L DateTournamentCategorySurfacePartnerOpponentsScoreLoss 0–1 Aug 1992 Schenectady, U.S. Tier V Hard Shannan McCarthy Alexia Dechaume Florencia Labat 3–6, 6–1, 2–6Loss 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 Open1994 Australian OpenRoundOpponentScore1R Veronika Martinek6–3, 6–22R Kristie Boogert6–2, 6–03R Anke Huber (7)3–6, 7–6(12–10), 6–44R Kimiko Date (10)5–7, 1–6

French Open1992 French OpenRoundOpponentScore1R Sophie Amiach6–4, 5–7, 6–42R Nathalie Tauziat (12)6–3, 1–6, 3–61993 French OpenRoundOpponentScore1R Silke Meier6–1, 4–6, 6–22R Conchita Martínez (4)5–7, 2–61994 French OpenRoundOpponentScore1R Elna Reinach4–6, 6–4, 6–32R Conchita Martínez (3)2–6, 3–6

Wimbledon Championships1994 WimbledonRoundOpponentScore1R Veronika Martinek6–3, 6–22R Claire Wegink (LL)6–4, 6–03R Amanda Coetzer (14)0–6, 3–6

US Open1994 US OpenRoundOpponentScore1R Karin Kschwendt6–2, 6–12R Åsa Carlsson 6–1, 6–13R Conchita Martínez (3)3–6, 6–4, 6–14R Gigi Fernández3–6, 4–6

References

External links