Helga Niessen Masthoff

Helga Niessen Masthoff (née Niessen; born 11 November 1941) is a retired tennis player from West Germany. Her best Grand Slam singles tournament was when she reached the 1970 French Open final, losing to Margaret Court in straight sets. She won the German Open three consecutive years from 1972 through 1974, beating Martina Navratilova in the 1974 final in three sets. Masthoff was the runner-up at that tournament in 1971, losing to Billie Jean King.

Helga Niessen Masthoff
Helga Niessen-Masthoff in 1965
ITF nameHelga Masthoff
Country (sports) West Germany
Born (1941-11-11) 11 November 1941
Essen, Germany
Height1.83 m (6 ft 0 in)
PlaysRight-handed (one handed backhand)
Singles
Career record68–33
Highest rankingNo. 6 (1970)
Grand Slam singles results
Australian OpenQF (1976)
French OpenF (1970)
WimbledonQF (1970, 1974)
US OpenSF (1973)
Doubles
Career record38–22
Grand Slam doubles results
Australian Open2R (1976)
French OpenF (1976)
WimbledonQF (1968, 1971)
Mixed doubles
Grand Slam mixed doubles results
Australian Open2R (1965)
French Open1R (1964)

She won the German national singles title on ten occasions (1965, 1966, 1968, 1969, 1971, 1972, 1975, 1976, 1977 and 1978).[1]

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 Kathleen 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 10 in 1970, 1971, and 1973, reaching a career high of world No. 6 in 1970.[2]

In 1970 she received the Silbernes Lorbeerblatt (Silver Laurel Leaf), the highest sports award in Germany.[3]

Grand Slam finals

Singles (1 runner-up)
Result Year Championship Surface Opponent Score
Loss1970French OpenClayAustralia Margaret Court2–6, 4–6

Doubles (1 runner-up)
Result Year Championship Surface Partner Opponents Score
Loss1976French OpenClayUnited States Kathleen HarterFrance Gail Sheriff
Uruguay Fiorella Bonicelli		4–6, 6–1, 3–6

Grand Slam singles tournament timeline
Key
W  F  SF QF #R RR Q# DNQ A NH
(W) winner; (F) finalist; (SF) semifinalist; (QF) quarterfinalist; (#R) rounds 4, 3, 2, 1; (RR) round-robin stage; (Q#) qualification round; (DNQ) did not qualify; (A) absent; (NH) not held; (SR) strike rate (events won / competed); (W–L) win–loss record.
Tournament1963196419651966196719681969197019711972197319741975197619771978Career SR
Australia 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 2R 3R 2R 1R A 2R A QF 3R 2R A QF A A 2R A 0 / 10
United States 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

Note: The Australian Open was held twice in 1977 (in January and December).

See also

References
  1. "Siegerliste Damen". Deutscher Tennis Bund (DTB) (in German).
  2. Collins, Bud (2008). The Bud Collins History of Tennis: An Authoritative Encyclopedia and Record Book. New York, N.Y: New Chapter Press. pp. 695, 703–4. ISBN 0-942257-41-3.
  3. "Sportbericht der Bundesregierung" (PDF). dipbt.bundestag.de. Deutscher Bundestag. 26 September 1973. p. 80.
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