Helen Kelesi
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| Country (sports) |  Canada |
|---|---|
| Born | Script error: No such module "person date". Victoria, British Columbia, Canada |
| Died | Script error: No such module "person date". |
| Turned pro | 1985 |
| Plays | Right-handed (two-handed backhand) |
| Prize money | US$900,990 |
| Singles | |
| Career record | 263–182 |
| Career titles | 2 WTA, 3 ITF |
| Highest ranking | No. 13 (20 November 1989) |
| Grand Slam singles results | |
| Australian Open | 3R (1990) |
| French Open | QF (1988, 1989) |
| Wimbledon | 3R (1993) |
| US Open | 3R (1986, 1987) |
| Other tournaments | |
| Olympic Games | 1R (1988) |
| Doubles | |
| Career record | 81–109 |
| Career titles | 2 WTA |
| Highest ranking | No. 26 (22 April 1991) |
| Grand Slam doubles results | |
| Australian Open | 2R (1992) |
| French Open | QF (1989) |
| Wimbledon | 2R (1987, 1988) |
| US Open | 2R (1990, 1991) |
| Grand Slam mixed doubles results | |
| French Open | 2R (1988) |
| Wimbledon | 2R (1986, 1987) |
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Helen Kelesi (born 15 November 1969) is a former professional tennis player from Canada. She was coached by her father Milan Kelesi.
Career
"Hurricane Helen",[1] as the Canadian press dubbed her for her fiery demeanour, achieved a career-high ranking of world No. 13 (November 1989), and was a regular fixture in the top 25 from 1986 to 1991. She won singles titles at two tour events, the 1986 Japan Open and the 1988 Citta de Taranto, and at the French Open, she was a quarterfinalist in 1988 (losing to Gabriela Sabatini) and 1989 (losing to Mary Joe Fernández). During her time on the WTA Tour, Kelesi recorded wins over Arantxa Sánchez Vicario, Conchita Martínez, Jana Novotná, Manuela Maleeva-Fragnière, Helena Suková and Pam Shriver.
Kelesi's game was characterized by aggressive baseline play, with a powerful top-spin forehand and two-handed backhand. She also retrieved well and could play defensively when needed. These skills meant that Kelesi was particularly good on clay and hardcourt surfaces.
Kelesi was a Canadian Federation Cup team member from 1986 to 1993. She was Tennis Canada Singles Player of the Year four times (1986, 1987, 1989, and 1990).
Her professional career came to an end in 1995 when a brain tumour the size of a tennis ball was discovered following months of headaches, dizziness and vision problems.[2][3] Numerous operations followed over the years. Kelesi successfully recovered and began coaching young children in Canada in the late 1990s. She also became a part-time tennis journalist and commentator.
WTA career finals
Singles: 9 (2 titles, 7 runner-ups)
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| Result | W/L | Date | Tournament | Surface | Opponent | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loss | 0–1 | Aug 1985 | VS Monticello, U.S. | Hard | Template:Flagicon Barbara Potter | 6–4, 3–6, 2–6 |
| Win | 1–1 | Oct 1986 | Japan Open | Hard | Template:Flagicon Bettina Fulco | 6–2, 6–2 |
| Win | 2–1 | May 1988 | Ilva Trophy, Italy | Clay | Template:Flagicon Laura Garrone | 6–1, 6–0 |
| Loss | 2–2 | May 1988 | Italian Open | Clay | Template:Flagicon Gabriela Sabatini | 1–6, 7–6(4), 1–6 |
| Loss | 2–3 | Aug 1988 | Cincinnati Masters, U.S. | Hard | Template:Flagicon Barbara Potter | 2–6, 2–6 |
| Loss | 2–4 | Apr 1989 | Barcelona Open, Spain | Clay | Template:Flagicon Arantxa Sánchez Vicario | 2–6, 7–5, 1–6 |
| Loss | 2–5 | Nov 1989 | VS Nashville, U.S. | Hard (I) | Template:Flagicon Leila Meskhi | 2–6, 3–6 |
| Loss | 2–6 | May 1990 | Geneva, Switzerland | Clay | Template:Flagicon Barbara Paulus | 6–2, 5–7, 6–7(3) |
| Loss | 2–7 | May 1991 | Geneva, Switzerland | Clay | Template:Flagicon Manuela Maleeva-Fragnière | 3–6, 6–3, 3–6 |
Doubles: 5 (2 titles, 3 runner-ups)
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| Result | W/L | Date | Tournament | Surface | Partner | Opponents | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loss | 0–1 | May 1988 | Ilva Trophy, Italy | Clay | Template:Flagicon Laura Garrone | Template:Flagicon Andrea Betzner Template:Flagicon Claudia Porwik |
1–6, 2–6 |
| Loss | 0–2 | Aug 1988 | Cincinnati Masters, U.S. | Hard | Template:Flagicon Lindsay Bartlett | Template:Flagicon Beth Herr Template:Flagicon Candy Reynolds |
6–4, 6–7(9), 1–6 |
| Win | 1–2 | May 1990 | Italian Open | Clay | Template:Flagicon Monica Seles | Template:Flagicon Laura Garrone Template:Flagicon Laura Golarsa |
6–3, 6–4 |
| Loss | 1–3 | Aug 1990 | Canadian Open | Hard | Template:Flagicon Raffaella Reggi | Template:Flagicon Betsy Nagelsen Template:Flagicon Gabriela Sabatini |
6–3, 2–6, 2–6 |
| Win | 2–3 | Oct 1990 | VS Scottsdale, U.S. | Hard | Template:Flagicon Elise Burgin | Template:Flagicon Sandy Collins Template:Flagicon Ronni Reis |
6–4, 6–2 |
ITF finals
| $100,000 tournaments |
| $75,000 tournaments |
| $50,000 tournaments |
| $25,000 tournaments |
| $10,000 tournaments |
Singles (3–0)
| Result | Date | Tournament | Surface | Opponent | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Win | 3 February 1991 | ITF Midland, United States | Hard (i) | Template:Flagicon Meredith McGrath | 6–2, 6–2 |
| Win | 27 January 1992 | ITF Midland, United States | Hard (i) | Template:Flagicon Claire Wegink | 7–6(7–2), 7–6(10–8) |
| Win | 25 January 1993 | ITF Austin, United States | Hard | Template:Flagicon Elly Hakami | 6–4, 3–6, 6–2 |
Doubles (0–2)
| Result | Date | Tournament | Surface | Partner | Opponents | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loss | 3 February 1991 | ITF Midland, United States | Hard (i) | Template:Flagicon Katrina Adams | Template:Flagicon Anne Smith Template:Flagicon Meredith McGrath |
5–7, 5–7 |
| Loss | 27 January 1992 | ITF Midland, United States | Hard (i) | Template:Flagicon Caroline Vis | Template:Flagicon Manon Bollegraf Template:Flagicon Meredith McGrath |
3–6, 1–6 |
Grand Slam singles performance timeline
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| W | F | SF | QF | #R | RR | Q# | DNQ | A | NH |
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| Tournament | 1985 | 1986 | 1987 | 1988 | 1989 | 1990 | 1991 | 1992 | 1993 | 1994 | 1995 | 1996 | 1997 | Career SR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Australian Open | A | NH | 2R | A | A | 3R | A | 1R | A | 2R | A | A | A | 0 / 4 |
| French Open | 1R | 1R | 4R | QF | QF | 2R | 3R | A | 1R | 1R | A | A | A | 0 / 9 |
| Wimbledon | 1R | 2R | 1R | 1R | 1R | 1R | 1R | A | 3R | 1R | A | A | A | 0 / 9 |
| US Open | 1R | 3R | 3R | 2R | 1R | 2R | 2R | 1R | 1R | 1R | A | A | A | 0 / 10 |
| SR | 0 / 3 | 0 / 3 | 0 / 4 | 0 / 3 | 0 / 3 | 0 / 4 | 0 / 3 | 0 / 2 | 0 / 3 | 0 / 4 | 0 / 0 | 0 / 0 | 0 / 0 | 0 / 32 |
| Year-end ranking | 48 | 39 | 32 | 19 | 13 | 25 | 29 | 128 | 49 | 124 | NR | NR | 763 |
References
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- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Helen Kelesi". BC Sports Hall of Fame. Retrieved 25 March 2025.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."A tumour the size of a tennis ball couldn't stop Hurricane Helen". The Globe and Mail. 27 May 2008. Retrieved 25 March 2025.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.S.L. Price (17 May 1997). "THE SECOND TIME AROUND HELEN KELESI WAS A TENNIS TERROR UNTIL A BRAIN TUMOR CHANGED HER LIFE AND APPROACH TO THE GAME". Vault.si. Retrieved 25 March 2025.
External links
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