Bulgarian tennis player
Manuela Maleeva Native name Мануела Малеева Country (sports) Bulgaria (1982–89) Switzerland (1990–94)Residence La Tour-de-Peilz , SwitzerlandBorn (1967-02-14 ) 14 February 1967 (age 57) Sofia , Bulgaria Height 1.73 m (5 ft 8 in) Turned pro May 1982 Retired February 1994 Plays Right-handed (two-handed backhand) Prize money US$3,244,811 Career record 475–187 (71.8%) Career titles 19 Highest ranking No. 3 (4 February 1985) Australian Open QF (1985 , 1992 , 1994 ) French Open QF (1985 , 1987 , 1989 , 1990 ) Wimbledon QF (1984 ) US Open SF (1992 , 1993 ) Tour Finals SF (1987 ) Olympic Games Bronze Medal (1988 )Career record 129–131 (49.6%) Career titles 4 Highest ranking No. 11 (2 August 1993) Australian Open 3R (1991 , 1992 , 1994 ) French Open QF (1986 ) Wimbledon 3R (1993 ) US Open 2R (1985 , 1989 ) Career titles 1 French Open 3R (1984 , 1986 ) Wimbledon 2R (1985 ) US Open W (1984 )Fed Cup Bulgaria SF (1985 , 1987 ) Switzerland QF (1991 )Hopman Cup SwitzerlandW (1992 )
Manuela Georgieva Maleeva (Bulgarian : Мануела Георгиева Малеева ; born 14 February 1967) is a Bulgarian former professional tennis player. She played on the WTA Tour between 1982 and 1994. Through her marriage, Maleeva began representing Switzerland officially from January 1990 until her retirement in February 1994.
One of the most consistent players on tour in the 1980s and early 1990s, Maleeva reached her career-high singles ranking of No. 3 in the world in February 1985 and finished with a year-end top 10 ranking for nine consecutive years (1984 till 1992). A winner of 19 WTA singles titles and four doubles titles, she also reached a total of 14 Grand Slam quarterfinals in her career, including two US Open semifinals in 1992 and 1993 , which are her career-best Grand Slam results. She was a semifinalist at the 1987 Virginia Slims Championships .
Maleeva was the bronze medalist in singles at the 1988 Seoul Olympics , winning Bulgaria's first (and thus far, only) Olympic tennis medal. In 1992, she paired up with Jakob Hlasek at the Hopman Cup where they took home Switzerland 's first ever title at the event.
Maleeva was born in Sofia , the oldest of the three children of Georgi Maleev and Yuliya Berberyan . Her mother, who came from an Armenian family, was the best Bulgarian tennis player in the 1960s. After she retired from professional tennis in the 1970s, Berberyan started a coaching career. She coached all three of her daughters, Manuela, Katerina , and Magdalena , each of whom became a top six player.[1]
In 1982, Maleeva won the junior French Open, and also made her debut on the senior tour, ending the year ranked in the top 100.[2] After ending the 1983 season in the top 40, she won five tournaments in 1984, and made her debut in the top 10 after defeating Chris Evert in the final of the Italian Open . She also won her only Grand Slam title that year – in mixed doubles at the US Open with American Tom Gullikson .[2]
In 1988, Maleeva-Fragnière won a bronze medal in singles at the Seoul Olympics in Seoul . In 1992 and 1993, Maleeva-Fragnière registered her all-time best achievement in Grand Slam singles competition when she reached the semifinals of the US Open both years (in 1992, after beating youngest sister Magdalena in the quarterfinals).[2]
In 1994, Maleeva-Fragnière retired from professional tennis, after winning the title in Osaka where she beat Iva Majoli in the final. During her 12-year career, she won 19 WTA singles titles, four doubles titles, and one mixed doubles title. She also teamed with Jakob Hlasek to help Switzerland win the Hopman Cup in 1992.[2]
In Fed Cup competition, Maleeva twice helped Bulgaria reach the semifinals (1985 and 1987 ), and then led Switzerland to the quarterfinals in 1991 .[2]
Personal life [ edit ]
Maleeva married Swiss tennis coach François Fragnière in December 1987 and from then on, began competing as Manuela Maleeva-Fragnière. She represented Switzerland from 1990 until her retirement. They have three children, Lora, born in 1995, Iva in 1997, Timo in 1999, but divorced in 2003.[1] She currently resides in La Tour-de-Peilz , about 90 km northeast of Geneva across Lake Geneva .[2] [3]
Retirement life [ edit ]
Maleeva has been active in politics back in her home country, being one of the founding members of Yes, Bulgaria! which was founded in 2017. The party focuses on institutional reforms and an anti-corruption agenda.[4] [5] [6] Prior to that, she also advocated the 2015 Bulgarian electoral code referendum .[7] [1]
Outside politics, Maleeva is also active in her foundation, Fondation Swissclinical, which she co-founded in 2008.[8] The foundation focuses on helping handicapped children and children in need by providing them with good medical care and long-term support.[3] [1]
Major finals [ edit ]
Grand Slam tournament finals [ edit ]
Mixed Doubles: 1 (1 title) [ edit ]
Olympics [ edit ]
Singles: 1 bronze medal [ edit ]
Result
Year
Location
Surface
Opponent
Score
Bronze
1988
Seoul , South Korea
Hard
Tied
DNP
Maleeva-Fragnière lost in the semifinals to Gabriela Sabatini 1–6, 2–6. In 1988, there was no bronze medal play-off match; both beaten semifinal players received bronze medals.
Performance timelines [ edit ]
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.
Singles [ edit ]
Doubles [ edit ]
WTA career finals [ edit ]
Singles: 37 (19 titles, 18 runner-ups) [ edit ]
Legend
Grand Slam tournaments (0–0)
Tier I (1–1)
Tier II (0–0)
Tier III (3–4)
Tier IV (3–2)
Tier V / Virginia Slims (12–11)
Finals by surface
Hard (4–2)
Clay (6–6)
Grass (0–1)
Carpet (9–9)
Result
W–L
Date
Tournament
Tier
Surface
Opponent
Score
Loss
0–1
Feb 1984
Houston , United States
Virginia Slims
Carpet (i)
Hana Mandlíková
4–6, 2–6
Win
1–1
May 1984
Lugano , Switzerland
Virginia Slims
Clay
Iva Budařová
6–1, 6–1
Win
2–1
May 1984
Perugia , Italy
Virginia Slims
Clay
Chris Evert
6–3, 6–3
Win
3–1
Aug 1984
Indianapolis , United States
Virginia Slims
Clay
Lisa Bonder
6–4, 6–3
Win
4–1
Nov 1984
Tokyo , Japan
Virginia Slims
Carpet (i)
Hana Mandlíková
6–1, 1–6, 6–4
Win
5–1
Dec 1984
Tokyo , Japan
Virginia Slims
Carpet (i)
Claudia Kohde-Kilsch
3–6, 6–4, 6–4
Loss
5–2
Jan 1985
Washington , United States
Virginia Slims
Carpet (i)
Martina Navratilova
3–6, 2–6
Loss
5–3
May 1985
Lugano , Switzerland
Virginia Slims
Clay
Bonnie Gadusek
2–6, 2–6
Loss
5–4
Oct 1985
Brighton , Great Britain
Virginia Slims
Carpet (i)
Chris Evert
5–7, 3–6
Loss
5–5
Nov 1985
Tokyo , Japan
Virginia Slims
Carpet (i)
Chris Evert
5–7, 0–6
Win
6–5
Dec 1985
Tokyo , Japan
Virginia Slims
Carpet (i)
Bonnie Gadusek
7–6(7–2) , 3–6, 7–5
Loss
6–6
May 1986
Lugano , Switzerland
Virginia Slims
Clay
Raffaella Reggi
7–5, 3–6, 6–7(6–8)
Loss
6–7
Jun 1986
Birmingham , Great Britain
Virginia Slims
Grass
Pam Shriver
2–6, 6–7(0–7)
Loss
6–8
Sep 1986
Tokyo , Japan
Virginia Slims
Carpet (i)
Steffi Graf
4–6, 2–6
Win
7–8
Apr 1987
Wild Dunes , United States
Virginia Slims
Clay
Raffaella Reggi
5–7, 6–2, 6–3
Loss
7–9
Apr 1987
Hilton Head , United States
Virginia Slims
Clay
Steffi Graf
2–6, 6–4, 3–6
Loss
7–10
May 1987
Geneva , Switzerland
Virginia Slims
Clay
Chris Evert
3–6, 6–4, 2–6
Win
8–10
Aug 1987
Mahwah , United States
Virginia Slims
Hard
Sylvia Hanika
1–6, 6–4, 6–1
Loss
8–11
Sep 1987
Tokyo , Japan
Virginia Slims
Carpet (i)
Gabriela Sabatini
4–6, 6–7(6–8)
Win
9–11
Mar 1988
Wichita , United States
Tier V
Hard (i)
Sylvia Hanika
7–6(7–5) , 7–5
Win
10–11
Sep 1988
Phoenix , United States
Tier V
Hard
Dinky Van Rensburg
6–3, 4–6, 6–2
Loss
10–12
Oct 1988
Zurich , Switzerland
Tier IV
Carpet (i)
Pam Shriver
3–6, 4–6
Loss
10–13
Oct 1988
Brighton , Great Britain
Tier III
Carpet (i)
Steffi Graf
2–6, 0–6
Win
11–13
Mar 1989
Indian Wells , United States
Tier III
Hard
Jenny Byrne
6–4, 6–1
Win
12–13
May 1989
Geneva , Switzerland
Tier V
Clay
Conchita Martínez
6–4, 6–0
Loss
12–14
Feb 1990
Chicago , United States
Tier I
Carpet (i)
Martina Navratilova
3–6, 2–6
Loss
12–15
Apr 1990
San Antonio , United States
Tier III
Hard
Monica Seles
4–6, 3–6
Loss
12–16
Aug 1990
San Diego , United States
Tier III
Hard
Steffi Graf
3–6, 2–6
Win
13–16
Feb 1991
Linz , Austria
Tier V
Carpet (i)
Petra Langrová
6–4, 7–6(7–1)
Loss
13–17
Apr 1991
Barcelona , Spain
Tier III
Clay
Conchita Martínez
4–6, 1–6
Win
14–17
May 1991
Geneva , Switzerland
Tier IV
Clay
Helen Kelesi
6–3, 3–6, 6–3
Win
15–17
Sep 1991
Bayonne , France
Tier IV
Carpet (i)
Leila Meskhi
4–6, 6–3, 6–4
Loss
15–18
Jul 1992
Kitzbühel , Austria
Tier IV
Clay
Conchita Martínez
0–6, 6–3, 2–6
Win
16–18
Oct 1992
Bayonne , France
Tier IV
Carpet (i)
Nathalie Tauziat
6–7(4–7) , 6–2, 6–3
Win
17–18
Feb 1993
Linz , Austria
Tier III
Carpet (i)
Conchita Martínez
6–2, 1–0 ret.
Win
18–18
Oct 1993
Zurich , Switzerland
Tier I
Carpet (i)
Martina Navratilova
6–3, 7–6(7–1)
Win
19–18
Feb 1994
Osaka , Japan
Tier III
Carpet (i)
Iva Majoli
6–1, 4–6, 7–5
Doubles: 11 (4 titles, 7 runner–ups) [ edit ]
Legend
Grand Slam tournaments (0–0)
Tier I (0–0)
Tier II (1–2)
Tier III (0–1)
Tier IV (0–1)
Tier V / Virginia Slims (3–3)
Finals by surface
Hard (0–1)
Clay (3–3)
Grass (0–0)
Carpet (1–3)
Result
W–L
Date
Tournament
Tier
Surface
Partner
Opponents
Score
Loss
0–1
May 1985
Houston , United States
Virginia Slims
Clay
Helena Suková
1–6, 6–3, 3–6
Win
1–1
Jul 1985
Indianapolis , United States
Virginia Slims
Clay
Katerina Maleeva
Penny Barg Paula Smith
3–6, 6–3, 6–4
Loss
1–2
Sep 1986
Tokyo , Japan
Virginia Slims
Carpet (i)
Katerina Maleeva
Bettina Bunge Steffi Graf
1–6, 7–6(7–4) , 2–6
Win
2–2
Jul 1987
Knokke , Belgium
Virginia Slims
Clay
Bettina Bunge
4–6, 6–4, 6–4
Loss
2–3
Sep 1987
Tokyo , Japan
Virginia Slims
Carpet (i)
Katerina Maleeva
Anne White Robin White
1–6, 2–6
Win
3–3
Feb 1991
Linz , Austria
Tier V
Carpet (i)
Raffaella Reggi
6–4, 1–6, 6–3
Loss
3–4
May 1991
Geneva , Switzerland
Tier IV
Clay
Cathy Caverzasio
1–6, 2–6
Loss
3–5
Feb 1993
Osaka , Japan
Tier III
Carpet (i)
Magdalena Maleeva
Jana Novotná Larisa Neiland
1–6, 3–6
Win
4–5
Apr 1993
Amelia Island , United States
Tier II
Clay
Leila Meskhi
3–6, 6–3, 6–4
Loss
4–6
Apr 1993
Barcelona , Spain
Tier II
Clay
Magdalena Maleeva
Conchita Martínez Arantxa Sánchez Vicario
6–4, 1–6, 0–6
Loss
4–7
Aug 1993
Stratton Mountain , United States
Tier II
Hard
Mercedes Paz
Elizabeth Smylie Helena Suková
1–6, 2–6
ITF Circuit finals [ edit ]
Singles: 4 (2 titles, 2 runner–ups) [ edit ]
Legend
$100,000 tournaments
$75,000 tournaments
$50,000 tournaments
$25,000 tournaments
$10,000 tournaments
Finals by surface
Hard (0–0)
Clay (2–2)
Grass (0–0)
Carpet (0–0)
Result
W–L
Date
Tournament
Tier
Surface
Opponent
Score
Loss
0–1
Mar 1982
ITF Caserta, Italy
10,000
Clay
Hana Fukárková
4–6, 1–6
Win
1–1
Apr 1982
ITF Lecce, Italy
10,000
Clay
Elizabeth Smylie
6–4, 6–4
Win
2–1
Apr 1982
ITF Catania, Italy
10,000
Clay
Gabriela Dinu
6–3, 6–1
Loss
2–2
Jul 1982
ITF Båstad, Sweden
10,000
Clay
Lena Sandin
7–6, 5–7, 3–6
Doubles: 3 (3 titles) [ edit ]
Legend
$100,000 tournaments
$75,000 tournaments
$50,000 tournaments
$25,000 tournaments
$10,000 tournaments
Finals by surface
Hard (0–0)
Clay (3–0)
Grass (0–0)
Carpet (0–0)
Result
W–L
Date
Tournament
Tier
Surface
Partner
Opponents
Score
Win
1–0
Apr 1982
ITF Taranto, Italy
10,000
Clay
Renata Šašak
Catrin Jexell Isabelle Villaverde
7–5, 3–6, 6–2
Win
2–0
Apr 1982
ITF Lecce, Italy
10,000
Clay
Renata Šašak
Lena Sandin Elisabeth Ekblom
6–2, 2–6, 8–6
Win
3–0
Sep 1985
ITF Sofia, Bulgaria
25,000
Clay
Katerina Maleeva
Yvona Brzáková Hana Fukárková
6–1, 6–2
Junior Grand Slam tournament finals [ edit ]
Singles: 1 (1 title) [ edit ]
Fed Cup [ edit ]
Manuela Maleeva debuted for the Bulgaria Fed Cup team in 1983. She has a 21–5 singles record and a 7–10 doubles record (28–15 overall).
Singles (21–5) [ edit ]
Edition
Round
Date
Against
Surface
Opponent
W/L
Result
1983 World Group I
R1
17 July 1983
Switzerland
Clay
Christiane Jolissaint
L
4–6, 6–4, 4–6
PO
19 July 1983
Zimbabwe
Angela Longo
W
6–1, 6–0
PO
21 July 1983
Soviet Union
Olga Zaitseva
W
6–0, 6–3
1984 World Group I
R1
15 July 1984
Great Britain
Clay
Jo Durie
W
6–4, 4–6, 6–4
R2
16 July 1984
Soviet Union
Natasha Reva
W
6–2, 6–0
QF
18 July 1984
Yugoslavia
Mima Jaušovec
W
3–6, 6–3, 6–1
1985 World Group I
R1
6 October 1985
Soviet Union
Hard
Larisa Savchenko
W
6–7(3–7) , 6–4, 6–1
R2
8 October 1985
Yugoslavia
Sabrina Goleš
W
6–1, 6–3
QF
10 October 1985
Great Britain
Annabel Croft
W
6–2, 6–2
SF
12 October 1985
Czechoslovakia
Hana Mandlíková
L
6–3, 2–6, 1–6
1986 World Group I
R1
20 July 1986
Soviet Union
Clay
Larisa Savchenko
W
6–2, 6–1
R2
21 July 1986
France
Catherine Tanvier
W
6–0, 6–1
QF
23 July 1986
West Germany
Claudia Kohde-Kilsch
W
6–4, 6–2
1987 World Group I
R1
26 July 1987
Greece
Hard
Angeliki Kanellopoulou
W
6–0, 6–0
R2
27 July 1987
Indonesia
Yayuk Basuki
W
6–4, 6–0
QF
29 July 1987
Australia
Elizabeth Smylie
W
6–4, 6–4
SF
31 July 1987
United States
Chris Evert
L
2–6, 6–2, 4–6
1989 World Group I
R1
1 October 1989
South Korea
Hard
Kim Il-soon
W
6–1, 6–0
R2
3 October 1989
Argentina
Mercedes Paz
W
4–6, 6–1, 6–3
QF
5 October 1989
Australia
Anne Minter
L
3–6, 6–2, 4–6
↓ Representing Switzerland ↓
1991 World Group I
R1
23 July 1991
Argentina
Hard
Mercedes Paz
W
6–0, 7–6(7–5)
R2
24 July 1991
China
Li Fang
W
6–7(5–7) , 7–5, 6–2
QF
25 July 1991
Czechoslovakia
Jana Novotná
L
4–6, 4–6
1992 World Group I
R1
14 July 1992
Sweden
Clay
Catarina Lindqvist
W
6–0, 6–2
PO
16 July 1992
Israel
Anna Smashnova
W
6–1, 6–0
PO
17 July 1992
Paraguay
Rossana de los Ríos
W
6–2, 6–2
Doubles (7–10) [ edit ]
Edition
Round
Date
Partner
Against
Surface
Opponents
W/L
Result
1983 World Group I
PO
19 July 1983
Marina Kondova
Zimbabwe
Clay
Angela Longo Lindsay Standen
W
6–4, 6–2
PO
21 July 1983
Adriana Velcheva
Soviet Union
L
4–6, 3–6
1984 World Group I
R1
15 July 1984
Katerina Maleeva
Great Britain
Clay
Amanda Brown Anne Hobbs
W
7–6, 7–5
R2
16 July 1984
Katerina Maleeva
Soviet Union
L
7–5, 5–7, 1–6
QF
18 July 1984
Katerina Maleeva
Yugoslavia
L
3–6, 1–6
1985 World Group I
R1
6 October 1985
Katerina Maleeva
Soviet Union
Hard
Natalia Egorova Svetlana Cherneva
W
6–3, 7–5
R2
8 October 1985
Katerina Maleeva
Yugoslavia
Sabrina Goleš Aila Winkler
W
6–4, 7–6(9–7)
QF
10 October 1985
Katerina Maleeva
Great Britain
L
4–5, Ret.
SF
12 October 1985
Katerina Maleeva
Czechoslovakia
L
3–6, 6–7(4–7)
1986 World Group I
R1
20 July 1986
Katerina Maleeva
Soviet Union
Clay
L
6–1, 4–6, 1–6
QF
23 July 1986
Katerina Maleeva
West Germany
L
4–6, 2–6
1989 World Group I
R1
1 October 1989
Katerina Maleeva
South Korea
Hard
W
7–5, 6–0
R2
3 October 1989
Katerina Maleeva
Argentina
W
6–1, 3–6, 6–1
QF
5 October 1989
Katerina Maleeva
Australia
L
7–5, 4–6, 0–6
↓ Representing Switzerland ↓
1991 World Group I
R2
24 July 1991
Cathy Caverzasio
China
Hard
Li Fang Yi Jing-Qian
L
1–3, Ret.
QF
25 July 1991
Cathy Caverzasio
Czechoslovakia
W
6–4, 2–1, Ret.
1992 World Group I
R1
14 July 1992
Michèle Strebel
Sweden
Clay
L
4–6, 7–5, 4–6
Record against other top players [ edit ]
Maleeva's win–loss record against certain players who have been ranked world No. 10 or higher is as follows:
Players who have been ranked world No. 1 are in boldface.
See also [ edit ]
References [ edit ]
External links [ edit ]