Manuela Maleeva-Fragnière
? ?

Country (sports)	Bulgaria (1982-89)   Switzerland (1990-94)
Residence	La Tour-de-Peilz, Switzerland
Born	(1967-02-14) 14 February 1967 (age 53) 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	$3,244,557
Singles
Career record	475-187 (71.8%)
Career titles	19 WTA, 2 ITF
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	Bronze Medal (1988)
Doubles
Career record	129-131 (49.6%)
Career titles	4 WTA, 3 ITF
Highest ranking	No. 11 (2 August 1993)
Mixed doubles
Career titles	1
Grand Slam Mixed Doubles results
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 Women's Singles

Manuela Georgieva Maleeva-Fragnière (Bulgarian: ? ?; 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 200.^[2] In 1984, Maleeva, won five tournaments, 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 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 have since divorced.^[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]

Grand Slam finals

Mixed Doubles: 1 title

Outcome	Year	Championship	Surface	Partner	Opponents	Score
Winner	1984	US Open	Hard	Tom Gullikson	Elizabeth Smylie John Fitzgerald	2-6, 7-5, 6-4

Olympics

Singles: 1 bronze medal

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.

WTA career finals

Singles (19-18)

Outcome	No.	Date	Tournament	Surface	Opponent	Score
Runner-up	1.	30 January 1984	Houston, United States	Carpet (i)	Hana Mandlíková	4-6, 2-6
Winner	1.	7 May 1984	Lugano, Switzerland	Clay	Iva Buda?ová	6-1, 6-1
Winner	2.	21 May 1984	Perugia, Italy	Clay	Chris Evert	6-3, 6-3
Winner	3.	6 August 1984	Indianapolis, U.S.	Clay	Lisa Bonder	6-4, 6-3
Winner	4.	12 November 1984	Tokyo, Japan	Carpet (i)	Hana Mandlíková	6-1, 1-6, 6-4
Winner	5.	10 December 1984	Tokyo, Japan	Carpet (i)	Claudia Kohde-Kilsch	3-6, 6-4, 6-4
Runner-up	2.	7 January 1985	Washington, U.S.	Carpet (i)	Martina Navratilova	3-6, 2-6
Runner-up	3.	20 May 1985	Lugano, Switzerland	Clay	Bonnie Gadusek	4-6, 2-6
Runner-up	4.	21 October 1985	Brighton, England	Carpet (i)	Chris Evert	5-7, 3-6
Runner-up	5.	11 November 1985	Tokyo, Japan	Carpet (i)	Chris Evert	5-7, 0-6
Winner	6.	9 December 1985	Tokyo, Japan	Carpet (i)	Bonnie Gadusek	7-6(7-2), 3-6, 7-5
Runner-up	6.	19 May 1986	Lugano, Switzerland	Clay	Raffaella Reggi	7-5, 3-6, 6-7(6-8)
Runner-up	7.	9 June 1986	Birmingham, England	Grass	Pam Shriver	2-6, 6-7(0-7)
Runner-up	8.	8 September 1986	Tokyo, Japan	Carpet (i)	Steffi Graf	4-6, 2-6
Winner	7.	30 March 1987	Wild Dunes, U.S.	Clay	Raffaella Reggi	5-7, 6-2, 6-3
Runner-up	9.	6 April 1987	Hilton Head, U.S.	Clay	Steffi Graf	2-6, 6-4, 3-6
Runner-up	10.	18 May 1987	Geneva, Switzerland	Clay	Chris Evert	3-6, 6-4, 2-6
Winner	8.	24 August 1987	Mahwah, U.S.	Hard	Sylvia Hanika	1-6, 6-4, 6-1
Runner-up	11.	14 September 1987	Tokyo, Japan	Carpet (i)	Gabriela Sabatini	4-6, 6-7(6-8)
Winner	9.	29 February 1988	Wichita, U.S.	Hard (i)	Sylvia Hanika	7-6(7-5), 7-5
Winner	10.	12 September 1988	Phoenix, U.S.	Hard	Dinky Van Rensburg	6-3, 4-6, 6-2
Runner-up	12.	17 October 1988	Zürich, Switzerland	Carpet (i)	Pam Shriver	3-6, 4-6
Runner-up	13.	24 October 1988	Brighton, England	Carpet (i)	Steffi Graf	2-6, 0-6
Winner	11.	12 March 1989	Indian Wells, U.S.	Hard	Jenny Byrne	6-4, 6-1
Winner	12.	22 May 1989	Geneva, Switzerland	Clay	Conchita Martínez	6-4, 6-0
Runner-up	14.	12 February 1990	Chicago, U.S.	Carpet (i)	Martina Navratilova	3-6, 2-6
Runner-up	15.	27 March 1990	San Antonio, U.S.	Hard	Monica Seles	4-6, 3-6
Runner-up	16.	6 August 1990	San Diego, U.S.	Hard	Steffi Graf	3-6, 2-6
Winner	13.	11 February 1991	Linz, Austria	Carpet (i)	Petra Langrová	6-4, 7-6(7-1)
Runner-up	17.	22 April 1991	Barcelona, Spain	Clay	Conchita Martínez	4-6, 1-6
Winner	14.	20 May 1991	Geneva, Switzerland	Clay	Helen Kelesi	6-3, 3-6, 6-3
Winner	15.	23 September 1991	Bayonne, France	Carpet (i)	Leila Meskhi	4-6, 6-3, 6-4
Runner-up	18.	6 July 1992	Kitzbühel, Austria	Clay	Conchita Martínez	0-6, 6-3, 2-6
Winner	16.	28 September 1992	Bayonne, France	Carpet (i)	Nathalie Tauziat	6-7(4-7), 6-2, 6-3
Winner	17.	22 February 1993	Linz, Austria	Carpet (i)	Conchita Martínez	6-2, 1-0 ret.
Winner	18.	4 October 1993	Zürich, Switzerland	Carpet (i)	Martina Navratilova	6-3, 7-6(7-1)
Winner	19.	8 February 1994	Osaka, Japan	Carpet (i)	Iva Majoli	6-1, 4-6, 7-5

Doubles (4-7)

Outcome	No.	Date	Tournament	Surface	Partner	Opponents	Score
Runner-up	1.	29 April 1985	Houston, U.S.	Clay	Helena Suková	Elise Burgin Martina Navratilova	1-6, 6-3, 3-6
Winner	1.	22 July 1985	Indianapolis, U.S.	Clay	Katerina Maleeva	Penny Barg Paula Smith	3-6, 6-3, 6-4
Runner-up	2.	8 September 1986	Tokyo, Japan	Carpet (i)	Katerina Maleeva	Bettina Bunge Steffi Graf	1-6, 7-6(9-7), 2-6
Winner	2.	6 July 1987	Knokke, Belgium	Clay	Bettina Bunge	Kathleen Horvath Marcella Mesker	4-6, 6-4, 6-4
Runner-up	3.	14 September 1987	Tokyo, Japan	Carpet (i)	Katerina Maleeva	Anne White Robin White	1-6, 2-6
Winner	3.	11 February 1991	Linz, Austria	Carpet (i)	Raffaella Reggi	Petra Langrová Radka Zrubáková	6-4, 1-6, 6-3
Runner-up	4.	20 May 1991	Geneva, Switzerland	Clay	Cathy Caverzasio	Nicole Bradtke Elizabeth Smylie	1-6, 2-6
Runner-up	5.	9 February 1993	Osaka, Japan	Carpet (i)	Magdalena Maleeva	Jana Novotná Larisa Neiland	1-6, 3-6
Winner	4.	5 April 1993	Amelia Island, U.S.	Clay	Leila Meskhi	Amanda Coetzer Inés Gorrochategui	3-6, 6-3, 6-4
Runner-up	6.	19 April 1993	Barcelona, Spain	Clay	Magdalena Maleeva	Conchita Martínez Arantxa Sánchez Vicario	6-4, 1-6, 0-6
Runner-up	7.	26 July 1993	Stratton Mountain, U.S.	Hard	Mercedes Paz	Elizabeth Smylie Helena Suková	1-6, 2-6

ITF finals

Singles (2-2)

Outcome	No.	Date	Tournament	Surface	Opponent	Score
Runner-up	1.	28 March 1982	Caserta, Italy	Clay	Hana Fukárková	4-6, 1-6
Winner	1.	18 April 1982	Lecce, Italy	Clay	Elizabeth Smylie	6-4, 6-4
Winner	2.	25 April 1982	Catania, Italy	Clay	Gabriela Dinu	6-3, 6-1
Runner-up	2.	18 July 1982	Båstad, Sweden	Clay	Lena Sandin	7-6, 5-7, 3-6

Doubles (3-0)

Outcome	No.	Date	Tournament	Surface	Partner	Opponents	Score
Winner	1.	11 April 1982	Taranto, Italy	Clay	Renata ?a?ak	Catrin Jexell Isabelle Villaverde	7-5, 3-6, 6-2
Winner	2.	18 April 1982	Lecce, Italy	Clay	Renata ?a?ak	Lena Sandin Elisabeth Ekblom	6-2, 2-6, 8-6
Winner	3.	23 September 1985	Sofia, Bulgaria	Clay	Katerina Maleeva	Yvona Brzáková Hana Fukárková	6-1, 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 Jau?ovec	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 Gole?	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
	PO	21 July 1983	Adriana Velcheva	Soviet Union		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 Gole? Mima Jau?ovec	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 Gole? 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
	QF	23 July 1986	Katerina Maleeva	West Germany		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.
	QF	25 July 1991	Cathy Caverzasio	Czechoslovakia		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

Grand Slam singles performance timeline

• NH = tournament not held.
• A = did not participate in the tournament.
• SR = the ratio of the number of Grand Slam singles tournaments won to the number of those tournaments played.

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.

See also

• Katerina Maleeva
• Magdalena Maleeva
• List of female tennis players

References

External links

• Manuela Maleeva at the Women's Tennis Association
• Manuela Maleeva at the International Tennis Federation
• Manuela Maleeva at the Billie Jean King Cup

Awards
Preceded by Conny Kissling	Swiss Sportswoman of the Year 1993	Succeeded by Vreni Schneider