Bloomington, Minn. – Former Pepperdine Tennis star Ginger Helgeson has been named to the 2009 USTA Northern Hall of Fame according to an announcement from the USTA on June 18.

 

Helgeson-Nielsen joins Joan Baker, Tom Fridinger, Sue Gregor, John King and Dick Riley as one of six honorees who join an elite list of 86 other members who are part of the USTA Northern Hall of Fame located at the Fred Wells Tennis and Education Center in St. Paul, Minn.

 

The Northwestern Tennis Association Hall of Fame inducts players from Minnesota, North and South Dakota and Northwestern Wisconsin.

 

Helgeson-Nielsen is described as “perhaps the greatest women’s tennis player to ever come out of Minnesota.” Originally from St. Cloud, Minn., Helgeson was the first –ever winner of three consecutive Minnesota state singles Championships at Edina High School. She was ranked No. 1 in USTA Northern at all age levels.

 

The tennis standout was a four-year letter winner at Pepperdine and a three-time All-American. She finished her senior season ranked No. 4 in the nation in singles and reached the quarterfinals of the NCAA singles tournament as both a junior and senior. She finished her playing days as Pepperdine’s all-time leader in career winning percentage (.837) and No. 2 in career wins with 77. Helgeson-Nielsen was inducted into the Pepperdine Hall of Fame in 2008.

 

Helgeson-Nielsen went on to play professionally for several years, including appearances at all four of the Grand Slams. She was ranked as high as No. 5 in the United States and No. 29 in the world in 1994. Her accomplishments include reaching the round of 16 at both the Australian Open with a win over Anke Huber and US Open, defeating Wimbeldon singles champion Conchita Martinez. She also advanced to the quarterfinals in doubles at the French Open and Wimbledon and in mixed doubles at the US Open. In her career, she defeated numerous ranked players including Monica Seles, Martina Navratilova, Mary Jo Fernandez and Anna Kournikova.