Manuela Georgieva Maleeva (; 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.
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. 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.
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).
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.
In Fed Cup competition, Maleeva twice helped Bulgaria reach the semifinals (1985 and 1987), and then led Switzerland to the quarterfinals in 1991.
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. She currently resides in La Tour-de-Peilz, about 90 km northeast of Geneva across Lake Geneva.
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. Prior to that, she also advocated the 2015 Bulgarian electoral code referendum.
Outside politics, Maleeva is also active in her foundation, Fondation Swissclinical, which she co-founded in 2008. The foundation focuses on helping handicapped children and children in need by providing them with good medical care and long-term support.
Major finals
Grand Slam tournament finals
Mixed Doubles: 1 (1 title)
ResultYearChampionshipSurfacePartnerOpponentsScoreWin US Open Hard Tom Gullikson 2–6, 7–5, 6–4
Olympics
Singles: 1 bronze medal
ResultYearLocationSurfaceOpponentScoreBronze 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
Singles Tournament 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 SR W-L Win%Grand Slam tournaments Australian Open2R A AQFNH4R A A A2RQF4RQF0 / 718–6 French Open2R3R4RQF3RQF3RQFQF2R3R3R A0 / 1230–12 Wimbledon2R2RQF4R4R2R1R A1R A3R2R A0 / 1016–10 US Open3R3R1R4RQF4RQFQFQF4RSFSF A0 / 1239–12Win–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 4–10 / 41103–41Year–end championships WTA ChampionshipsDid not qualify1R1RQFSFQFQFQF1R1R1RDNQ0 / 106–10National representation↓ Representing ↓↓ Representing ↓Summer OlympicsNot Held ANot HeldSF-BNot HeldQFNot Held0 / 26–2Fed Cup A1RQFSFQFSF AQF AQF1R A A0 / 1020–9Career statistics Titles0051022203121Career total: 19 Finals0065354234221Career total: 37 Year-end ranking60306710869910911N/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 A2RNH A A A A3R3R2R3R0 / 58–5 French Open A1R2R2RQF1R2R2R2R2R1R3R A0 / 1111–11 Wimbledon A A1R1R2R1R1R A1R A1R3R A0 / 83–8 US Open A1R1R2R1R1R1R2R1R1R A1R A0 / 102–10Win–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 2–10 / 3424–34Career statistics Titles0001010001010Career total: 4 Finals0002120002040Career total: 11 Year-end rankingN/AN/AN/AN/A454712872893426117N/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 surfaceHard (4–2)Clay (6–6)Grass (0–1)Carpet (9–9) ResultW–LDateTournamentTierSurfaceOpponentScoreLoss 0–1 Houston, United States Virginia Slims Carpet (i) Hana Mandlíková 4–6, 2–6Win 1–1 Lugano, Switzerland Virginia Slims Clay Iva Budařová 6–1, 6–1Win 2–1 Perugia, Italy Virginia Slims Clay Chris Evert 6–3, 6–3Win 3–1 Indianapolis, United States Virginia Slims Clay Lisa Bonder 6–4, 6–3Win 4–1 Tokyo, Japan Virginia Slims Carpet (i) Hana Mandlíková 6–1, 1–6, 6–4Win 5–1 Tokyo, Japan Virginia Slims Carpet (i) Claudia Kohde-Kilsch 3–6, 6–4, 6–4Loss 5–2 Washington, United States Virginia Slims Carpet (i) Martina Navratilova 3–6, 2–6Loss 5–3 Lugano, Switzerland Virginia Slims Clay Bonnie Gadusek 2–6, 2–6Loss 5–4 Brighton, Great Britain Virginia Slims Carpet (i) Chris Evert 5–7, 3–6Loss 5–5 Tokyo, Japan Virginia Slims Carpet (i) Chris Evert 5–7, 0–6Win 6–5 Tokyo, Japan Virginia Slims Carpet (i) Bonnie Gadusek 7–6(7–2), 3–6, 7–5Loss 6–6 Lugano, Switzerland Virginia Slims Clay Raffaella Reggi 7–5, 3–6, 6–7(6–8)Loss 6–7 Birmingham, Great Britain Virginia Slims Grass Pam Shriver 2–6, 6–7(0–7)Loss 6–8 Tokyo, Japan Virginia Slims Carpet (i) Steffi Graf 4–6, 2–6Win 7–8 Wild Dunes, United States Virginia Slims Clay Raffaella Reggi 5–7, 6–2, 6–3Loss 7–9 Hilton Head, United States Virginia Slims Clay Steffi Graf 2–6, 6–4, 3–6Loss 7–10 Geneva, Switzerland Virginia Slims Clay Chris Evert 3–6, 6–4, 2–6Win 8–10 Mahwah, United States Virginia Slims Hard Sylvia Hanika 1–6, 6–4, 6–1Loss 8–11 Tokyo, Japan Virginia Slims Carpet (i) Gabriela Sabatini 4–6, 6–7(6–8)Win 9–11 Wichita, United States Tier V Hard (i) Sylvia Hanika 7–6(7–5), 7–5Win 10–11 Phoenix, United States Tier V Hard Dinky Van Rensburg 6–3, 4–6, 6–2Loss 10–12 Zurich, Switzerland Tier IV Carpet (i) Pam Shriver 3–6, 4–6Loss 10–13 Brighton, Great Britain Tier III Carpet (i) Steffi Graf 2–6, 0–6Win 11–13 Indian Wells, United States Tier III Hard Jenny Byrne 6–4, 6–1Win 12–13 Geneva, Switzerland Tier V Clay Conchita Martínez 6–4, 6–0Loss 12–14 Chicago, United States Tier I Carpet (i) Martina Navratilova 3–6, 2–6Loss 12–15 San Antonio, United States Tier III Hard Monica Seles 4–6, 3–6Loss 12–16 San Diego, United States Tier III Hard Steffi Graf 3–6, 2–6Win 13–16 Linz, Austria Tier V Carpet (i) Petra Langrová 6–4, 7–6(7–1)Loss 13–17 Barcelona, Spain Tier III Clay Conchita Martínez 4–6, 1–6Win 14–17 Geneva, Switzerland Tier IV Clay Helen Kelesi 6–3, 3–6, 6–3Win 15–17 Bayonne, France Tier IV Carpet (i) Leila Meskhi 4–6, 6–3, 6–4Loss 15–18 Kitzbühel, Austria Tier IV Clay Conchita Martínez 0–6, 6–3, 2–6Win 16–18 Bayonne, France Tier IV Carpet (i) Nathalie Tauziat 6–7(4–7), 6–2, 6–3Win 17–18 Linz, Austria Tier III Carpet (i) Conchita Martínez 6–2, 1–0 ret.Win 18–18 Zurich, Switzerland Tier I Carpet (i) Martina Navratilova 6–3, 7–6(7–1)Win 19–18 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 surfaceHard (0–1)Clay (3–3)Grass (0–0)Carpet (1–3) ResultW–LDateTournamentTierSurfacePartnerOpponents ScoreLoss 0–1 Houston, United States Virginia Slims Clay Helena Suková 1–6, 6–3, 3–6Win 1–1 Indianapolis, United States Virginia Slims Clay Katerina Maleeva Penny Barg Paula Smith 3–6, 6–3, 6–4Loss 1–2 Tokyo, Japan Virginia Slims Carpet (i) Katerina Maleeva Bettina Bunge Steffi Graf 1–6, 7–6(7–4), 2–6Win 2–2 Knokke, Belgium Virginia Slims Clay Bettina Bunge 4–6, 6–4, 6–4Loss 2–3 Tokyo, Japan Virginia Slims Carpet (i) Katerina Maleeva Anne White Robin White 1–6, 2–6Win 3–3 Linz, Austria Tier V Carpet (i) Raffaella Reggi 6–4, 1–6, 6–3Loss 3–4 Geneva, Switzerland Tier IV Clay Cathy Caverzasio 1–6, 2–6Loss 3–5 Osaka, Japan Tier III Carpet (i) Magdalena Maleeva Jana Novotná Larisa Neiland 1–6, 3–6Win 4–5 Amelia Island, United States Tier II Clay Leila Meskhi 3–6, 6–3, 6–4Loss 4–6 Barcelona, Spain Tier II Clay Magdalena Maleeva Conchita Martínez Arantxa Sánchez Vicario 6–4, 1–6, 0–6Loss 4–7 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 tournamentsFinals by surfaceHard (0–0)Clay (2–2)Grass (0–0)Carpet (0–0) ResultW–LDateTournamentTierSurfaceOpponentScoreLoss 0–1 ITF Caserta, Italy 10,000 Clay Hana Fukárková 4–6, 1–6Win 1–1 ITF Lecce, Italy 10,000 Clay Elizabeth Smylie 6–4, 6–4Win 2–1 ITF Catania, Italy10,000 Clay Gabriela Dinu 6–3, 6–1Loss 2–2 ITF Båstad, Sweden10,000 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 tournamentsFinals by surfaceHard (0–0)Clay (3–0)Grass (0–0)Carpet (0–0) ResultW–LDateTournamentTierSurfacePartnerOpponents ScoreWin 1–0 ITF Taranto, Italy 10,000 Clay Renata Šašak Catrin Jexell Isabelle Villaverde 7–5, 3–6, 6–2Win 2–0 ITF Lecce, Italy10,000 Clay Renata Šašak Lena Sandin Elisabeth Ekblom 6–2, 2–6, 8–6Win 3–0 ITF Sofia, Bulgaria25,000 Clay Katerina Maleeva Yvona Brzáková Hana Fukárková 6–1, 6–2
Junior Grand Slam tournament finals
Singles: 1 (1 title)
ResultYearChampionshipSurfaceOpponentScoreWin 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)