On Defeats, a New Life, and What Matters More Than Victories
For me, Magdalena is an example of how one can combine sports, family, business, and inner balance. I would like my readers—young people growing up with tennis—to hear your story firsthand.
A Bit About the Maleeva Family
The story of the Maleeva family, for me, is not just a sports dynasty but a true school of character. Your mother, Yulia Berberian, raised three daughters who all reached the top 10 of the WTA world rankings—a truly unique case in the history of tennis.
You, Manuela, and Katerina proved that success is not just a matter of talent, but also of a culture of hard work, respect for the game, and exceptional inner discipline. Each of you forged your own path—with different victories but with one philosophy: to do everything genuinely.
- Manuela Maleeva reached #3 in the world, won 19 WTA tournaments, and earned an Olympic bronze medal.
- Katerina Maleeva climbed to #6, won 11 tournaments, and is remembered by fans for her intelligent and elegant style.
- Magdalena Maleeva #4 in the world, a 10-time WTA tournament champion, known for her precision, calmness, and incredible concentration.
But perhaps most importantly, after sports, you were able to build a new, harmonious life. You created a club where children grow up inspired by your example. You showed that sports can be not just a career, but also a school of character, responsibility, and kindness.
Interview with Maggie
Me: How did it all begin? What are your first memories of tennis, and when did you feel it was your calling?
Maggie: So, I was eight days old when I was at the tennis club for the first time. Since my mom was a coach and my sisters were already there practicing, I just grew up at the tennis club. I spent my childhood there. I didn’t go to kindergarten. I don’t have a single memory of where I realized that this is what I will do. But it was kind of in the air, and I knew I would be playing tennis. I was very good at it at a very young age. We had a hitting wall, and I was at the wall hitting many balls….
Me: What were the most difficult moments in your career, and which were the brightest?
Maggie: The most difficult thing is losing matches. So probably the most difficult thing is to learn to deal with losing and failing and not playing good enough. As a tennis player, you lose most of the time. You lose almost every week, and this is a very difficult thing to deal with. For example, I have been number four in the world. I’ve won 11 tournaments, which means that only 11 times I didn’t fail. Every other time someone was better than me. And what are the best memories? I would say winning the tournaments also. Winning the tournament in Moscow in 2002 is a really great memory because I played really great tennis, and everything I was working on came together that week.
Me: Were there moments when you wanted to quit everything? What helped you keep moving forward?
Maggie: Yes, there were many moments where I wanted to quit. What kept me going was the belief in me that I could still improve, or my coaches were very encouraging. I also worked with psychologists and I was reading a lot of books. So every time I was feeling a little bit down, somehow I found my answers to keep going—either through books or friends or people close to me.
Me: How did you experience the transition from sports to a new life? Did it happen gradually or as a single decision?
Maggie: I was getting ready for this moment. The last year I played, I already knew that this would be my last year. …It was a gradual realization that I will stop at this time. And actually, when I stopped, I felt really, really very well. We decided to stay in Bulgaria…. I was so happy to settle down and not to carry a suitcase every week. I didn’t touch a racket for maybe two or three years, and then my kids were born, and I really had a very, very nice ending of my career and just very gradually started my next life.
Me: How was the idea to create the club born? Was it a desire to stay in tennis, to pass on your experience, or to start something new?
Maggie: The idea of the club was a family idea. At the time, I was still playing, and for me, it was something very distant, very foreign. My husband… thought that tennis has given me so much that I really need to give something back. So he kind of convinced me that I have to be involved in the club…. When I quit tennis, I didn’t have much desire to stay in tennis. I was very tired from tennis, but maybe 15 years later, I started being involved much more in the club, and now I am quite involved and really find meaning in everything we do at our tennis club. It’s kind of a school project.
Me: What qualities from sports do you use most often today—in life and in business?
Maggie: For me, what is really important that I learned from tennis is the fact that I failed so many times. …I know from tennis, it takes a lot of hard work, perseverance, good luck sometimes for something to come into fruition and to really be successful. So I’m not afraid to start new things. I’m not afraid to fail. I’m not afraid to start over again. And this is probably the most important lesson. And also from tennis, I know that you need a very good team in order to do anything successful….
Me: How has the formula for success changed for you? What does “victory” mean today, when you are no longer on the court?
Maggie: Yes, success before was winning matches. Success now is to enjoy everything I have and to be content with what I have. To find the balance between always wanting to improve, but at the same time enjoying what I have. Obviously, now I have three kids, so they are the main focus in my life. For me, to win is to be able to know that my family is okay and that we’re doing the right thing for the kids.
Me: How do you view the financial side of sports? When should an athlete start thinking about money, and how not to lose focus on the essence?
Maggie: When I played, I never thought about the money. It was never important for me. I knew I’m making good money, so I was not interested in making much more… Looking back, I’m glad that tennis is a sport where if you’re good, you make a lot of money. Obviously, this has given me so many opportunities. But when I played, I never thought about this.
Me: In your opinion, what has changed in tennis over the years—in the mindset of kids, parents, and coaches? And what should never change?
Maggie: I think tennis is a bit more physical now, that’s clear. And as far as parents and coaches, I think things are still the same. You have great parents, terrible parents, great coaches, terrible coaches, just like it was before. Now there is a lot more information, so I would think it’s a bit easier to know what is the right thing to do. I think everything is pretty much the same, just the money is different, and because of that, some things changed, like players have a lot more people around them.
Me: And finally—if you could tell your 18-year-old self something, what would it be?
Maggie: I would probably tell her that the winning or losing matches would not make a big difference in her life after tennis, so not to worry so much.
Thank you so much, Maggie. I know how busy you are, and that’s why we appreciate your attention even more.