Maleeva is rich enough to retire from tennis, without ever reaching the highest level as a player, the Guardian says. Photo by magdalena-maleeva.net
Magdalena Maleeva is turning her back on tennis, but the game has already made her a millionaire.
The Guardian published an article on the Bulgarian star's retirement this week.
"Maleeva exemplifies why some eastern European parents push their daughters into careers in tennis," the story says.
The Guardian comments that Maleeva has made a fortune without actually reaching the highest level in tennis.
Maleeva, now aged 30, became professional at the age of 14. She was briefly ranked at world's No.4 but she has only once reached a grand slam quarter-final - at the US Open 12 years ago.
The player now has her own clothing company and co-owns a large sports complex in Sofia, together with her mother and her sisters.