Background
Helgeson-Nielsen was born in Saint Cloud, Minnesota, before moving to Edina after seventh grade.
Helgeson-Nielsen was born in Saint Cloud, Minnesota, before moving to Edina after seventh grade.
She reached her highest singles ranking on January 2, 1995, when she became the Number. 29 in the world. In doubles, she reached Number. 38 in the world on January 9.
1 by the USTA Northern at all levels.
Helgeson-Nielsen then received a scholarship to attend Pepperdine University in Malibu, California. She played professionally from 1987, spending her first few years on the International Tennis Federation Women"s Circuit.
Her best season was in 1994, winning her first Women's Tennis Association title in Auckland and reaching the fourth round of the Australian and United States. Opens. 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 United States. Open qualifying tournament in 1998, where she reached the second round. 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-Nielsen now lives in Alpine, California, with her two boys.
She runs her own professional tennis instruction business.