Manuela Maleeva
Template:Short description Template:EngvarB Template:Use dmy dates Template:Family name hatnote Template:Infobox tennis biography
Manuela Georgieva Maleeva (Template:Langx; 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.
CareerEdit
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.<ref name=vavel2>Template:Cite news</ref>
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.<ref name=vavel>Template:Cite news</ref> 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.<ref name=vavel/>
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).<ref name=vavel/>
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.<ref name=vavel/>
In Fed Cup competition, Maleeva twice helped Bulgaria reach the semifinals (1985 and 1987), and then led Switzerland to the quarterfinals in 1991.<ref name=vavel/>
Personal lifeEdit
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.<ref name=vavel2/> She currently resides in La Tour-de-Peilz, about 90 km northeast of Geneva across Lake Geneva.<ref name=vavel/><ref name=cooperation>Template:Cite news</ref>
Retirement lifeEdit
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.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Prior to that, she also advocated the 2015 Bulgarian electoral code referendum.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref name=vavel2/>
Outside politics, Maleeva is also active in her foundation, Fondation Swissclinical, which she co-founded in 2008.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The foundation focuses on helping handicapped children and children in need by providing them with good medical care and long-term support.<ref name=cooperation/><ref name=vavel2/>
Major finalsEdit
Grand Slam tournament finalsEdit
Mixed Doubles: 1 (1 title)Edit
Result | Year | Championship | Surface | Partner | Opponents | Score |
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Win | [[1984 US Open – Mixed doubles|Template:Dts]] | US Open | Hard | Template:Flagicon Tom Gullikson | Template:Unbulleted list | 2–6, 7–5, 6–4 |
OlympicsEdit
Singles: 1 bronze medalEdit
Result | Year | Location | Surface | Opponent | Score |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Bronze | [[Tennis at the 1988 Summer Olympics – Women's singles|Template:Dts]] | 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 timelinesEdit
SinglesEdit
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 | Template:Tennis win percentage | |
French Open | 2R | 3R | 4R | QF | 3R | QF | 3R | QF | QF | 2R | 3R | 3R | A | 0 / 12 | 30–12 | Template:Tennis win percentage | |
Wimbledon | 2R | 2R | QF | 4R | 4R | 2R | 1R | A | 1R | A | 3R | 2R | A | 0 / 10 | 16–10 | Template:Tennis win percentage | |
US Open | 3R | 3R | 1R | 4R | QF | 4R | QF | QF | QF | 4R | SF | SF | A | 0 / 12 | 39–12 | Template:Tennis win percentage | |
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 | Template:Tennis win percentage | |
Year–end championships | |||||||||||||||||
WTA Championships | Did not qualify | 1R | 1R | QF | SF | QF | QF | QF | 1R | 1R | 1R | DNQ | 0 / 10 | 6–10 | Template:Tennis win percentage | ||
National representation | ↓ Representing Template:BUL ↓ | ↓ Representing Template:Flagu ↓ | |||||||||||||||
Summer Olympics | Not Held | A | Not Held | SF-B | Not Held | QF | Not Held | 0 / 2 | 6–2 | Template:Tennis win percentage | |||||||
Fed Cup | A | 1R | QF | SF | QF | SF | A | QF | A | QF | 1R | A | A | 0 / 10 | 20–9 | Template:Tennis win percentage | |
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 |
DoublesEdit
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 | Template:Tennis win percentage |
French Open | A | 1R | 2R | 2R | QF | 1R | 2R | 2R | 2R | 2R | 1R | 3R | A | 0 / 11 | 11–11 | Template:Tennis win percentage |
Wimbledon | A | A | 1R | 1R | 2R | 1R | 1R | A | 1R | A | 1R | 3R | A | 0 / 8 | 3–8 | Template:Tennis win percentage |
US Open | A | 1R | 1R | 2R | 1R | 1R | 1R | 2R | 1R | 1R | A | 1R | A | 0 / 10 | 2–10 | Template:Tennis win percentage |
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 | Template:Tennis win percentage |
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 finalsEdit
Singles: 37 (19 titles, 18 runner-ups)Edit
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Result | W–L | Date | Tournament | Tier | Surface | Opponent | Score |
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Loss | 0–1 | Template:Dts | Houston, United States | Virginia Slims | Carpet (i) | Template:Flagicon Hana Mandlíková | 4–6, 2–6 |
Win | 1–1 | Template:Dts | Lugano, Switzerland | Virginia Slims | Clay | Template:Flagicon Iva Budařová | 6–1, 6–1 |
Win | 2–1 | Template:Dts | Perugia, Italy | Virginia Slims | Clay | Template:Flagicon Chris Evert | 6–3, 6–3 |
Win | 3–1 | [[1984 U.S. Clay Court Championships – Women's singles|Template:Dts]] | Indianapolis, United States | Virginia Slims | Clay | Template:Flagicon Lisa Bonder | 6–4, 6–3 |
Win | 4–1 | Template:Dts | Tokyo, Japan | Virginia Slims | Carpet (i) | Template:Flagicon Hana Mandlíková | 6–1, 1–6, 6–4 |
Win | 5–1 | Template:Dts | Tokyo, Japan | Virginia Slims | Carpet (i) | Template:Flagicon Claudia Kohde-Kilsch | 3–6, 6–4, 6–4 |
Loss | 5–2 | Template:Dts | Washington, United States | Virginia Slims | Carpet (i) | Template:Flagicon Martina Navratilova | 3–6, 2–6 |
Loss | 5–3 | Template:Dts | Lugano, Switzerland | Virginia Slims | Clay | Template:Flagicon Bonnie Gadusek | 2–6, 2–6 |
Loss | 5–4 | Template:Dts | Brighton, Great Britain | Virginia Slims | Carpet (i) | Template:Flagicon Chris Evert | 5–7, 3–6 |
Loss | 5–5 | Template:Dts | Tokyo, Japan | Virginia Slims | Carpet (i) | Template:Flagicon Chris Evert | 5–7, 0–6 |
Win | 6–5 | Template:Dts | Tokyo, Japan | Virginia Slims | Carpet (i) | Template:Flagicon Bonnie Gadusek | 7–6(7–2), 3–6, 7–5 |
Loss | 6–6 | Template:Dts | Lugano, Switzerland | Virginia Slims | Clay | Template:Flagicon Raffaella Reggi | 7–5, 3–6, 6–7(6–8) |
Loss | 6–7 | [[1986 Edgbaston Cup – Singles|Template:Dts]] | Birmingham, Great Britain | Virginia Slims | Grass | Template:Flagicon Pam Shriver | 2–6, 6–7(0–7) |
Loss | 6–8 | Template:Dts | Tokyo, Japan | Virginia Slims | Carpet (i) | Template:Flagicon Steffi Graf | 4–6, 2–6 |
Win | 7–8 | Template:Dts | Wild Dunes, United States | Virginia Slims | Clay | Template:Flagicon Raffaella Reggi | 5–7, 6–2, 6–3 |
Loss | 7–9 | Template:Dts | Hilton Head, United States | Virginia Slims | Clay | Template:Flagicon Steffi Graf | 2–6, 6–4, 3–6 |
Loss | 7–10 | Template:Dts | Geneva, Switzerland | Virginia Slims | Clay | Template:Flagicon Chris Evert | 3–6, 6–4, 2–6 |
Win | 8–10 | Template:Dts | Mahwah, United States | Virginia Slims | Hard | Template:Flagicon Sylvia Hanika | 1–6, 6–4, 6–1 |
Loss | 8–11 | Template:Dts | Tokyo, Japan | Virginia Slims | Carpet (i) | Template:Flagicon Gabriela Sabatini | 4–6, 6–7(6–8) |
Win | 9–11 | [[1988 Virginia Slims of Kansas – Singles|Template:Dts]] | Wichita, United States | Tier V | Hard (i) | Template:Flagicon Sylvia Hanika | 7–6(7–5), 7–5 |
Win | 10–11 | [[1988 Virginia Slims of Arizona – Singles|Template:Dts]] | Phoenix, United States | Tier V | Hard | Template:Flagicon Dinky Van Rensburg | 6–3, 4–6, 6–2 |
Loss | 10–12 | [[1988 European Indoors – Singles|Template:Dts]] | Zurich, Switzerland | Tier IV | Carpet (i) | Template:Flagicon Pam Shriver | 3–6, 4–6 |
Loss | 10–13 | [[1988 Midland Group Championships – Singles|Template:Dts]] | Brighton, Great Britain | Tier III | Carpet (i) | Template:Flagicon Steffi Graf | 2–6, 0–6 |
Win | 11–13 | [[1989 Virginia Slims of Indian Wells – Singles|Template:Dts]] | Indian Wells, United States | Tier III | Hard | Template:Flagicon Jenny Byrne | 6–4, 6–1 |
Win | 12–13 | [[1989 European Open – Singles|Template:Dts]] | Geneva, Switzerland | Tier V | Clay | Template:Flagicon Conchita Martínez | 6–4, 6–0 |
Loss | 12–14 | Template:Dts | Chicago, United States | Tier I | Carpet (i) | Template:Flagicon Martina Navratilova | 3–6, 2–6 |
Loss | 12–15 | Template:Dts | San Antonio, United States | Tier III | Hard | Template:Flagicon Monica Seles | 4–6, 3–6 |
Loss | 12–16 | Template:Dts | San Diego, United States | Tier III | Hard | Template:Flagicon Steffi Graf | 3–6, 2–6 |
Win | 13–16 | Template:Dts | Linz, Austria | Tier V | Carpet (i) | Template:Flagicon Petra Langrová | 6–4, 7–6(7–1) |
Loss | 13–17 | Template:Dts | Barcelona, Spain | Tier III | Clay | Template:Flagicon Conchita Martínez | 4–6, 1–6 |
Win | 14–17 | Template:Dts | Geneva, Switzerland | Tier IV | Clay | Template:Flagicon Helen Kelesi | 6–3, 3–6, 6–3 |
Win | 15–17 | Template:Dts | Bayonne, France | Tier IV | Carpet (i) | Template:Flagicon Leila Meskhi | 4–6, 6–3, 6–4 |
Loss | 15–18 | Template:Dts | Kitzbühel, Austria | Tier IV | Clay | Template:Flagicon Conchita Martínez | 0–6, 6–3, 2–6 |
Win | 16–18 | Template:Dts | Bayonne, France | Tier IV | Carpet (i) | Template:Flagicon Nathalie Tauziat | 6–7(4–7), 6–2, 6–3 |
Win | 17–18 | Template:Dts | Linz, Austria | Tier III | Carpet (i) | Template:Flagicon Conchita Martínez | 6–2, 1–0 ret. |
Win | 18–18 | Template:Dts | Zurich, Switzerland | Tier I | Carpet (i) | Template:Flagicon Martina Navratilova | 6–3, 7–6(7–1) |
Win | 19–18 | [[1994 Asian Open – Singles|Template:Dts]] | Osaka, Japan | Tier III | Carpet (i) | Template:Flagicon Iva Majoli | 6–1, 4–6, 7–5 |
Doubles: 11 (4 titles, 7 runner–ups)Edit
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ITF Circuit finalsEdit
Singles: 4 (2 titles, 2 runner–ups)Edit
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Result | W–L | Date | Tournament | Tier | Surface | Opponent | Score |
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Loss | 0–1 | Template:Dts | ITF Caserta, Italy | 10,000 | Clay | Template:Flagicon Hana Fukárková | 4–6, 1–6 |
Win | 1–1 | Template:Dts | ITF Lecce, Italy | 10,000 | Clay | Template:Flagicon Elizabeth Smylie | 6–4, 6–4 |
Win | 2–1 | Template:Dts | ITF Catania, Italy | 10,000 | Clay | Template:Flagicon Gabriela Dinu | 6–3, 6–1 |
Loss | 2–2 | Template:Dts | ITF Båstad, Sweden | 10,000 | Clay | Template:Flagicon Lena Sandin | 7–6, 5–7, 3–6 |
Doubles: 3 (3 titles)Edit
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Result | W–L | Date | Tournament | Tier | Surface | Partner | Opponents | Score |
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Win | 1–0 | Template:Dts | ITF Taranto, Italy | 10,000 | Clay | Template:Flagicon Renata Šašak | Template:Flagicon Catrin Jexell Template:Flagicon Isabelle Villaverde |
7–5, 3–6, 6–2 |
Win | 2–0 | Template:Dts | ITF Lecce, Italy | 10,000 | Clay | Template:Flagicon Renata Šašak | Template:Flagicon Lena Sandin Template:Flagicon Elisabeth Ekblom |
6–2, 2–6, 8–6 |
Win | 3–0 | Template:Dts | ITF Sofia, Bulgaria | 25,000 | Clay | Template:Flagicon Katerina Maleeva | Template:Flagicon Yvona Brzáková Template:Flagicon Hana Fukárková |
6–1, 6–2 |
Junior Grand Slam tournament finalsEdit
Singles: 1 (1 title)Edit
Result | W–L | Year | Championship | Surface | Opponent | Score |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Win | 1–0 | Template:Dts | French Open | Clay | Template:Flagicon Penny Barg | 7–5, 6–2 |
Fed CupEdit
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
Doubles (7–10)Edit
Record against other top playersEdit
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. Template:Div col
- Template:Flagicon Katerina Maleeva 8–1
- Template:Flagicon Catarina Lindqvist 7–2
- Template:Flagicon Kathy Jordan 6–0
- Template:Flagicon Kathy Rinaldi 6–1
- Template:Flagicon Lori McNeil 6–2
- Template:Flagicon Claudia Kohde-Kilsch 5–2
- Template:Flagicon/Template:Flagicon Helena Suková 5–2
- Template:Flagicon Conchita Martínez 5–4
- Template:Flagicon Sylvia Hanika 4–0
- Template:Flagicon/Template:Flagicon Natasha Zvereva 4–0
- Template:Flagicon Jo Durie 4–1
- Template:Flagicon Brenda Schultz-McCarthy 4–1
- Template:Flagicon Zina Garrison 4–2
- Template:Flagicon Nathalie Tauziat 4–6
- Template:Flagicon/Template:Flagicon Karina Habšudová 3–0
- Template:Flagicon Mima Jaušovec 3–0
- Template:Flagicon Lisa Bonder 3–1
- Template:Flagicon Barbara Potter 3–2
- Template:Flagicon Andrea Temesvári 3–2
- Template:Flagicon Bonnie Gadusek 3–4
- Template:Flagicon/Template:Flagicon Hana Mandlíková 3–4
- Template:Flagicon/Template:Flagicon Martina Navratilova 3–11
- Template:Flagicon Magdalena Maleeva 2–0
- Template:Flagicon Dominique Monami 2–0
- Template:Flagicon Virginia Ruzici 2–0
- Template:Flagicon Carling Bassett-Seguso 2–1
- Template:Flagicon Kathleen Horvath 2–1
- Template:Flagicon Dianne Fromholtz 2–2
- Template:Flagicon Bettina Bunge 2–3
- Template:Flagicon Mary Joe Fernández 2–5
- Template:Flagicon Gabriela Sabatini 2–7
- Template:Flagicon Pam Shriver 2–7
- Template:Flagicon Chris Evert 2–17
- Template:Flagicon Sue Barker 1–0
- Template:Flagicon Kimiko Date-Krumm 1–0
- Template:Flagicon Julie Halard-Decugis 1–0
- Template:Flagicon Iva Majoli 1–0
- Template:Flagicon Mary Pierce 1–0
- Template:Flagicon Stephanie Rehe 1–0
- Template:Flagicon Barbara Paulus 1–1
- Template:Flagicon/Template:Flagicon Jana Novotná 1–2
- Template:Flagicon Wendy Turnbull 1–2
- Template:Flagicon Arantxa Sánchez Vicario 1–5
- Template:Flagicon Tracy Austin 0–1
- Template:Flagicon Jennifer Capriati 0–1
- Template:Flagicon Evonne Goolagong Cawley 0–1
- Template:Flagicon Anke Huber 0–2
- Template:Flagicon/Template:Flagicon/Template:Flagicon Monica Seles 0–9
- Template:Flagicon Steffi Graf 0–17
See alsoEdit
ReferencesEdit
External linksEdit
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