Helga Niessen Masthoff
Encyclopedia
Helga Niessen Masthoff (born 11 November 1941 in Essen
, Germany
) is a former tennis
player from West Germany
. Her best Grand Slam
singles tournament was when she reached the 1970 French Open
final, losing to Margaret Court 6–2, 6–4. She won the German Open
three consecutive years from 1972 through 1974, beating Martina Navratilova in the 1974 final 6–4, 5–7, 6–3. Masthoff was the runner-up at that tournament in 1971, losing to Billie Jean King
6–3, 6–2.
At the 1968 Olympic Games
in Mexico City
when tennis was a demonstration sport, Masthoff won the singles and doubles (with Edda Buding
) gold medals and the silver medal in mixed doubles (with Jürgen Faßbender).
Masthoff teamed with Kathy Harter to reach the women's doubles final at the 1976 French Open
, losing to the team of Fiorella Bonicelli
and Gail Sherriff Lovera
6–4, 1–6, 6–3. Masthoff played on West Germany's Fed Cup team
from 1965 to 1967, in 1969 and 1970, and from 1972 through 1977. Her overall win-loss record was 38–18, 23–10 in singles and 15–8 in doubles.
According to Bud Collins
, Masthoff was ranked in the world top ten in 1970, 1971, and 1973, reaching a career high of World No. 6 in 1970.
A = did not participate in the tournament.
SR = the ratio of the number of singles tournaments won to the number of those tournaments played.
Note: The Australian Open was held twice in 1977, in January and December.
Essen
- Origin of the name :In German-speaking countries, the name of the city Essen often causes confusion as to its origins, because it is commonly known as the German infinitive of the verb for the act of eating, and/or the German noun for food. Although scholars still dispute the interpretation of...
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
) is a former tennis
Tennis
Tennis is a sport usually played between two players or between two teams of two players each . Each player uses a racket that is strung to strike a hollow rubber ball covered with felt over a net into the opponent's court. Tennis is an Olympic sport and is played at all levels of society at all...
player from West Germany
West Germany
West Germany is the common English, but not official, name for the Federal Republic of Germany or FRG in the period between its creation in May 1949 to German reunification on 3 October 1990....
. Her best Grand Slam
Grand Slam (tennis)
The four Major tennis tournaments, also called the Slams, are the most important tennis events of the year in terms of world tour ranking points, tradition, prize-money awarded, strength and size of player field, and public attention. They are the Australian Open, the French Open, Wimbledon, and...
singles tournament was when she reached the 1970 French Open
1970 French Open - Women's Singles
Margaret Court was the defending champion, and she successfully defended her title, defeating Helga Niessen in the final. This was her second step towards completing the second Calendar Grand Slam.-Seeds:# Margaret Court ...
final, losing to Margaret Court 6–2, 6–4. She won the German Open
Qatar Telecom German Open
The German Open, sponsored from 2006 through 2008 as the Qatar Telecom German Open, was a WTA Tour affiliated professional tennis tournament for women played in Berlin, Germany. Held since 1896, it was one of the oldest tournaments for women...
three consecutive years from 1972 through 1974, beating Martina Navratilova in the 1974 final 6–4, 5–7, 6–3. Masthoff was the runner-up at that tournament in 1971, losing to Billie Jean King
Billie Jean King
Billie Jean King is a former professional tennis player from the United States. She won 12 Grand Slam singles titles, 16 Grand Slam women's doubles titles, and 11 Grand Slam mixed doubles titles. King has been an advocate against sexism in sports and society...
6–3, 6–2.
At the 1968 Olympic Games
Tennis at the 1968 Summer Olympics
Tennis returned to the Summer Olympic program as a demonstration event in 1968. Men's and women's singles and doubles and mixed doubles were held in both a Demonstration tournament and an Exhibition tournament. Both tournaments were held in Guadalajara, Mexico.-Demonstration:-Exhibition:-External...
in Mexico City
Mexico City
Mexico City is the Federal District , capital of Mexico and seat of the federal powers of the Mexican Union. It is a federal entity within Mexico which is not part of any one of the 31 Mexican states but belongs to the federation as a whole...
when tennis was a demonstration sport, Masthoff won the singles and doubles (with Edda Buding
Edda Buding
Edda Buding is a retired German tennis player of Romanian birth. She received the doubles gold medal at the 1968 Summer Olympics doubles demonstration event partnered with Helga Niessen Masthoff...
) gold medals and the silver medal in mixed doubles (with Jürgen Faßbender).
Masthoff teamed with Kathy Harter to reach the women's doubles final at the 1976 French Open
1976 French Open
List of the 1976 French Open champions:- Men's singles : Adriano Panatta def. Harold Solomon, 6–1, 6–4, 4–6, 7–6*It was Panatta's 1st career Grand Slam title.- Women's singles : Susan Barker def...
, losing to the team of Fiorella Bonicelli
Fiorella Bonicelli
Fiorella Bonicelli is a retired professional tennis player from Uruguay. During her career, she won the 1975 French Open mixed doubles title with Thomas Koch. She also won the 1976 French Open women's doubles title with Gail Lovera, defeating Kathy Harter and Helga Niessen Masthoff 6–4, 1–6, 6–3....
and Gail Sherriff Lovera
Gail Chanfreau
Gail Chanfreau , also known as Gail Lovera and Gail Benedetti, is a former amateur and professional tennis player....
6–4, 1–6, 6–3. Masthoff played on West Germany's Fed Cup team
Germany Fed Cup team
The Germany Fed Cup team represents Germany in Fed Cup tennis competition and are governed by Deutscher Tennis Bund. They currently compete in the World Group.-Current Team:* Tatjana Malek* Julia Görges* Andrea Petkovic* Anna-Lena Grönefeld...
from 1965 to 1967, in 1969 and 1970, and from 1972 through 1977. Her overall win-loss record was 38–18, 23–10 in singles and 15–8 in doubles.
According to Bud Collins
Bud Collins
-External links:*** 2001 interview with Collins*...
, Masthoff was ranked in the world top ten in 1970, 1971, and 1973, reaching a career high of World No. 6 in 1970.
Grand Slam singles tournament timeline
| Tournament | 1963 | 1964 | 1965 | 1966 | 1967 | 1968 | 1969 | 1970 | 1971 | 1972 | 1973 | 1974 | 1975 | 1976 | 1977 | 1978 | Career SR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Australia Australian Open The Australian Open is the only Grand Slam tennis tournament held in the southern hemisphere. The tournament was held for the first time in 1905 and was last contested on grass in 1987. Since 1972 the Australian Open has been held in Melbourne, Victoria. In 1988, the tournament became a hard court... |
A | A | 1R | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | QF | A / A | A | 0 / 2 |
| France | A | 2R | 1R | 2R | A | A | A | F | 1R | SF | QF | SF | 2R | QF | 3R | QF | 0 / 12 |
| Wimbledon The Championships, Wimbledon The Championships, Wimbledon, or simply Wimbledon , is the oldest tennis tournament in the world, considered by many to be the most prestigious. It has been held at the All England Club in Wimbledon, London since 1877. It is one of the four Grand Slam tennis tournaments, the other three Majors... |
2R | 3R | 2R | 1R | A | 2R | A | QF | 3R | 2R | A | QF | A | A | 2R | A | 0 / 10 |
| United States U.S. Open (tennis) The US Open, formally the United States Open Tennis Championships, is a hardcourt tennis tournament which is the modern iteration of one of the oldest tennis championships in the world, the U.S. National Championship, which for men's singles was first contested in 1881... |
2R | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | SF | A | A | A | A | A | 0 / 2 |
| SR | 0 / 2 | 0 / 2 | 0 / 3 | 0 / 2 | 0 / 0 | 0 / 1 | 0 / 0 | 0 / 2 | 0 / 2 | 0 / 2 | 0 / 2 | 0 / 2 | 0 / 1 | 0 / 2 | 0 / 2 | 0 / 1 | 0 / 26 |
A = did not participate in the tournament.
SR = the ratio of the number of singles tournaments won to the number of those tournaments played.
Note: The Australian Open was held twice in 1977, in January and December.
See also
- Performance timelines for all female tennis players who reached at least one Grand Slam finalTennis performance timeline comparison (women)This article presents in a tabular form the career tennis Grand Slam, World Hard Court Championships and Olympic singles results of every woman who has reached the singles final of at least one Grand Slam, World Hard Court Championships or Olympic tournament during her career...