Turned pro 1982 Role Tennis player Retired February 1994 Height 1.73 m | Prize money $3,244,557 Weight 58 kg Name Manuela Maleeva | |
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Plays Right-handed (two-handed backhand) Spouse Francois Fragniere (m. 1987) Siblings Magdalena Maleeva, Katerina Maleeva Parents Georgi Maleev, Yuliya Berberyan Similar People | ||
Chris evert vs manuela maleeva 1987 family circle cup semifinal
Manuela Georgieva Maleeva-Fragnière (Bulgarian: Мануела Георгиева Малеева) (born 14 February 1967) is a Bulgarian former professional tennis player. She played on the Women's Tennis Association tour between 1982 and 1994. Through her marriage Maleeva began representing Switzerland officially from January 1990 until her retirement in February 1994.
Contents
- Chris evert vs manuela maleeva 1987 family circle cup semifinal
- Monica seles vs manuela maleeva 1989 nokia masters final
- Biography
- Singles 1 medal 1 bronze medal
- Fed Cup
- Grand Slam singles performance timeline
- Record against other top players
- References
Monica seles vs manuela maleeva 1989 nokia masters final
Biography
Maleeva-Fragnière 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 WTA top ten players.
In 1982, Maleeva-Fragnière won the junior French Open. Later that year, she made her debut on the senior tour and ended the year ranked in the top 200.
In 1984, Maleeva-Fragnière won five tournaments and recorded wins over Chris Evert, Hana Mandlíková, Helena Suková, Claudia Kohde-Kilsch, Wendy Turnbull, Kathy Jordan, and Zina Garrison Jackson. After winning the tournament in Indianapolis, Maleeva-Fragnire rose to World No. 3 in the rankings. Once in the top ten, she did not leave it until 1992. Also in 1984, Maleeva won her only Grand Slam title – in mixed doubles at the US Open with American Tom Gullikson.
In 1988, Maleeva-Fragnière won a bronze medal in singles at the 1988 Summer 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 her sister, Magdalena, in the quarterfinals).
In 1994, Maleeva-Fragnière retired from professional tennis.
During her 12-year career, Maleeva won 19 WTA Tour singles titles, four doubles titles, and one mixed doubles title. She teamed with Jakob Hlasek to help Switzerland win the Hopman Cup in 1992 and, while playing for Bulgaria, twice reached the semifinals of Fed Cup (1985 and 1987).
Maleeva was married in 1987 to Swiss tennis coach François Fragnière. They lived in Blonay, Switzerland, had two girls and a boy (Lora born in 1995, Iva born in 1997 and Timo born in 1999) but divorced in 2007. Then Manuela Maleeva moved with her kids to La Tour-de-Peilz, not far from Lausanne.
Singles: 1 medal (1 bronze medal)
Maleeva lost in the semi-finals to Gabriela Sabatini 6–1, 6–2. In 1988, there was no bronze medal play-off match, both beaten semi-final players received bronze medals.
Fed Cup
Manuela Maleeva debuted for the Bulgaria Fed Cup team in 1983. Since then she has a 21–5 singles record and a 7–10 doubles record (28–15 overall).
Grand Slam singles performance timeline
Record against other top players
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.