15 Facts About Manuela Maleeva

Manuela Georgieva Maleeva is a Bulgarian former professional tennis player.

Manuela Maleeva played on the WTA Tour between 1982 and 1994.

One of the most consistent players on tour in the 1980s and early 1990s, Manuela 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.

Manuela Maleeva was a semifinalist at the 1987 Virginia Slims Championships.

Manuela Maleeva was the bronze medalist in singles at the 1988 Seoul Olympics, winning Bulgaria's first Olympic tennis medal.

Manuela Maleeva was born in Sofia, the oldest of the three children of Georgi Maleev and Yuliya Berberyan.

Manuela Maleeva coached all three of her daughters, Manuela, Katerina, and Magdalena, each of whom became a top six player.

In 1982, Manuela Maleeva won the junior French Open, and made her debut on the senior tour, ending the year ranked in the top 100.

In 1988, Manuela Maleeva-Fragniere won a bronze medal in singles at the Seoul Olympics in Seoul.

In 1992 and 1993, Manuela Maleeva-Fragniere registered her all-time best achievement in Grand Slam singles competition when she reached the semifinals of the US Open both years.

In 1994, Manuela Maleeva-Fragniere retired from professional tennis, after winning the title in Osaka where she beat Iva Majoli in the final.

Manuela Maleeva teamed with Jakob Hlasek to help Switzerland win the Hopman Cup in 1992.

In Fed Cup competition, Manuela Maleeva twice helped Bulgaria reach the semifinals, and then led Switzerland to the quarterfinals in 1991.

Outside politics, Manuela Maleeva is active in her foundation, Fondation Swissclinical, which she co-founded in 2008.

Manuela Maleeva debuted for the Bulgaria Fed Cup team in 1983.