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Maleeva and Sabatini Reunite In Paris After Three Decades
6 Comments · Posted by Scoop Malinowski in Bios
By Scoop Malinowski
A very special tennis reunion took place this week at Roland Garros. After over three decades, two great champions of the 1980s and 90s spontaneously crossed paths and met again.
Manuela Maleeva and Gabriela Sabatini had not seen each other since the early 1990s. Their last match together was in 1988 in Korea.
“We hadn’t seen each other since I finished playing professionally (in 1994). I won’t say how many years have passed (smiles). We were rivals, we played bloody matches against each other, we didn’t talk much in the locker rooms or outside, each concentrated on the next training session or match. Each in her bubble, and both of us were obviously very shy. But yesterday we bumped into each other at Roland Garros, looked into each other’s eyes and spontaneously found ourselves in an incredibly strong and warm hug.”
“There were no words needed. We both knew how much tennis gave us, but also how difficult it was and what effort it took. She’s one of the biggest stars in our sport (and beyond). Gabriela Sabatini! Or just Gabby!”
Sabatini of Argentina and Maleeva of Bulgaria, played each other nine times on the WTA tour from 1985 at Hilton Head to 1988 at the Seoul, Korea Olympics. Sabatini won seven of those nine clashes.
Maleeva, then known as Maleeva-Fragniere, reached no. 3 and won 19 singles titles but she never won a Grand Slam title in singles. Her best slam result was US Open semis in 1992 and 1993. Maleeva did win a Grand Slam in mixed doubles with Tom Gullickson in 1984 at US Open. Maleeva won the final tournament she ever played in 1994 in Osaka, Japan by beating Iva Majoli.
Sabatini won the 1990 US Open singles crown (vs. Steffi Graf) and 1988 Wimbledon doubles title with Graf. She won 41 titles overall and her highest ranking was also no. 3. Both players were strong, steady, consistent performers and competed in many memorable matches in their era.
Gabriela Sabatini · Manuela Maleeva · Roland Garros
Scoop Malinowski · June 2, 2022 at 2:18 pm
To me this nice simple story about a reuniting of two tennis greats after three decades is one of the best stories of this whole tournament.
catherine · June 3, 2022 at 5:17 am
Mauela had (has) a sister called Katerina and together they weren’t terribly popular, probably because, as Manuela suggests, they were both shy and in their own ‘bubble’. Here’s something I wrote about Katerina (and Steffi) at the US Open in the 80s:
‘Katerina Maleeva opens against Steffi Graf and is off court again after winning three games, all in the first set. She said ‘It’s hard to play her because she doesn’t lob, she is always hitting the ball and you never have time to relax for a minute. You always have to play the ball 100% ‘. Does she have a weakness ? ‘Yes, she is a human being’.
Scoop Malinowski · June 3, 2022 at 8:56 am
Catherine, I wonder if all three of the Maleeva sisters ever managed one win vs Steffi, will try to research the record of Maleeva sisters vs Graf.
catherine · June 3, 2022 at 9:31 am
https://www-sportsillustrated-de.translate.goog/tennis/angelique-kerber-ich-will-das-hektische-leben-nicht-mehr-zurueck?_x_tr_sl=de&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=en&_x_tr_pto=sc
If anyone’s interested this is an interview Angie gave to German SI recently. She rarely gives interviews these days but this time maybe she wanted to talk about her past, future etc.
Recent quote : ‘Ich brenne noch fur meinem Sport’ (I still burn for my sport) – do we see her set fire to herself on the Centre Court at Wimbledon this year in a suitably Teutonic farewell ?
Scoop Malinowski · June 3, 2022 at 9:34 am
Kerber and Halep are nowhere near the finish line.
catherine · June 3, 2022 at 11:46 am
‘Leaving Wimbledon with a smile on my face and a heart full of memories. The last few weeks have reminded me once again how much I love this sport. Thank you for the support through the highs and lows of my journey. It means the world to me.’
This from Angie at W’don ’21. Sounds awfully like a rehearsal speech to me. 2022 will be her final full season.
Simona seems in a quandary. Her new management set up is the last throw of the dice.