Manuela Maleeva

Manuela Maleeva
Native name	Мануела Малеева
Country (sports)	Bulgaria (1982–89); Switzerland (1990–94)
Residence	La Tour-de-Peilz, Switzerland
Born	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
Singles
Career record	475–187
Career titles	19
Highest ranking	No. 3 (4 February 1985)
Grand Slam singles results
Australian Open	QF (1985, 1992, 1994)
French Open	QF (1985, 1987, 1989, 1990)
Wimbledon	QF (1984)
US Open	SF (1992, 1993)
Other tournaments
Tour Finals	SF (1987)
Olympic Games	SF (1988)
Doubles
Career record	129–131
Career titles	4
Highest ranking	No. 11 (2 August 1993)
Grand Slam doubles results
Australian Open	3R (1991, 1992, 1994)
French Open	QF (1986)
Wimbledon	3R (1993)
US Open	2R (1985, 1989)
Mixed doubles
Career titles	1
Grand Slam mixed doubles results
French Open	3R (1984, 1986)
Wimbledon	2R (1985)
US Open	W (1984)
Team competitions
Fed Cup	Bulgaria; SF (1985, 1987); Switzerland; QF (1991)
Hopman Cup	Switzerland; W (1992)
Medal record
Women's tennis
Representing Bulgaria
Olympic Games

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.

Career

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

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

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

Grand Slam tournament finals

Mixed Doubles: 1 (1 title)

Result	Year	Championship	Surface	Partner	Opponents	Score
Win	1984	US Open	Hard	Tom Gullikson	Elizabeth Smylie John Fitzgerald	2–6, 7–5, 6–4

Olympics

Singles: 1 bronze medal

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

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

Tournament	1982	1983	1984	1985	1986		1987	1988	1989	1990	1991	1992	1993	1994	SR	W-L	Win%
Grand Slam tournaments
Australian Open	2R	A	A	QF	NH		4R	A	A	A	2R	QF	4R	QF	0 / 7	18–6	75%
French Open	2R	3R	4R	QF	3R		QF	3R	QF	QF	2R	3R	3R	A	0 / 12	30–12	71%
Wimbledon	2R	2R	QF	4R	4R		2R	1R	A	1R	A	3R	2R	A	0 / 10	16–10	62%
US Open	3R	3R	1R	4R	QF		4R	QF	QF	QF	4R	SF	SF	A	0 / 12	39–12	76%
Win–loss	4–4	5–3	7–3	13–4	9–3		10–4	6–3	8–2	8–3	5–3	13–4	11–4	4–1	0 / 41	103–41	72%
Year–end championships
WTA Championships	Did not qualify			1R	1R	QF	SF	QF	QF	QF	1R	1R	1R	DNQ	0 / 10	6–10	38%
National representation	↓ Representing Bulgaria ↓									↓ Representing Switzerland ↓
Summer Olympics	Not Held		A	Not Held				SF-B	Not Held			QF	Not Held		0 / 2	6–2	75%
Fed Cup	A	1R	QF	SF	QF		SF	A	QF	A	QF	1R	A	A	0 / 10	20–9	69%
Career statistics
Titles	0	0	5	1	0		2	2	2	0	3	1	2	1	Career total: 19
Finals	0	0	6	5	3		5	4	2	3	4	2	2	1	Career total: 37
Year-end ranking	60	30	6	7	10		8	6	9	9	10	9	11	N/A	$3,244,811

Doubles

Tournament	1982	1983	1984	1985	1986	1987	1988	1989	1990	1991	1992	1993	1994	SR	W-L	Win%
Australian Open	A	A	A	2R	NH	A	A	A	A	3R	3R	2R	3R	0 / 5	8–5	62%
French Open	A	1R	2R	2R	QF	1R	2R	2R	2R	2R	1R	3R	A	0 / 11	11–11	50%
Wimbledon	A	A	1R	1R	2R	1R	1R	A	1R	A	1R	3R	A	0 / 8	3–8	27%
US Open	A	1R	1R	2R	1R	1R	1R	2R	1R	1R	A	1R	A	0 / 10	2–10	17%
Win–loss	0–0	0–2	1–3	3–4	4–3	0–3	1–3	2–2	1–3	3–3	2–3	5–4	2–1	0 / 34	24–34	41%
Career statistics
Titles	0	0	0	1	0	1	0	0	0	1	0	1	0	Career total: 4
Finals	0	0	0	2	1	2	0	0	0	2	0	4	0	Career total: 11
Year-end ranking	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	45	47	128	72	89	34	261	17	N/A	$3,244,811

WTA career finals

Singles: 37 (19 titles, 18 runner-ups)

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)

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	Elise Burgin Martina Navratilova	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	Kathleen Horvath Marcella Mesker	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	Petra Langrová Radka Zrubáková	6–4, 1–6, 6–3
Loss	3–4	May 1991	Geneva, Switzerland	Tier IV	Clay	Cathy Caverzasio	Nicole Bradtke Elizabeth Smylie	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	Amanda Coetzer Inés Gorrochategui	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

Singles: 4 (2 titles, 2 runner–ups)

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)

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

Singles: 1 (1 title)

Result	W–L	Year	Championship	Surface	Opponent	Score
Win	1–0	1982	French Open	Clay	Penny Barg	7–5, 6–2

Fed Cup

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)

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)

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
1983 World Group I	PO	21 July 1983	Adriana Velcheva	Soviet Union	Clay	Svetlana Cherneva Larisa Savchenko	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		Elena Eliseenko Larisa Savchenko	L	7–5, 5–7, 1–6
	QF	18 July 1984	Katerina Maleeva	Yugoslavia		Sabrina Goleš Mima Jaušovec	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		Jo Durie Anne Hobbs	L	4–5, Ret.
	SF	12 October 1985	Katerina Maleeva	Czechoslovakia		Hana Mandlíková Helena Suková	L	3–6, 6–7^(4–7)
1986 World Group I	R1	20 July 1986	Katerina Maleeva	Soviet Union	Clay	Svetlana Cherneva Larisa Savchenko	L	6–1, 4–6, 1–6
1986 World Group I	QF	23 July 1986	Katerina Maleeva	West Germany	Clay	Bettina Bunge Claudia Kohde-Kilsch	L	4–6, 2–6
1989 World Group I	R1	1 October 1989	Katerina Maleeva	South Korea	Hard	Kim Il-soon Lee Jeong-myung	W	7–5, 6–0
	R2	3 October 1989	Katerina Maleeva	Argentina		Florencia Labat Mercedes Paz	W	6–1, 3–6, 6–1
	QF	5 October 1989	Katerina Maleeva	Australia		Elizabeth Smylie Janine Tremelling	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.
1991 World Group I	QF	25 July 1991	Cathy Caverzasio	Czechoslovakia	Hard	Jana Novotná Regina Rajchrtová	W	6–4, 2–1, Ret.
1992 World Group I	R1	14 July 1992	Michèle Strebel	Sweden	Clay	Maria Lindström Maria Strandlund	L	4–6, 7–5, 4–6