Elena Pampoulova

Elena Pampoulova (also Elena Wagner, Elena Pampoulova-Bergomi, Bulgarian: Елена Пампулова, 17 May 1972 – 19 April 2023) was a Bulgarian tennis player. In her career, she won one singles title and three doubles titles on the WTA Tour.

Elena Pampoulova
Елена Пампулова
Elena Wagner (2006)
Country (sports) Bulgaria (1972–1996)
 Germany (1997–2001)
Born(1972-05-17)17 May 1972
Sofia, Bulgaria
Died19 April 2023(2023-04-19) (aged 50)
Turned pro1988
Retired2001
Prize moneyUS$ 704,882
Singles
Career record243–179 (57.6%)
Career titles1 WTA, 12 ITF
Highest rankingNo. 62 (9 September 1996)
Grand Slam singles results
Australian Open2R (1990, 1998, 1999)
French Open2R (1990, 1998, 1999)
Wimbledon3R (1999)
US Open3R (1997)
Other tournaments
Olympic Games1R (1992)
Doubles
Career record163–146 (52.8%)
Career titles3 WTA, 8 ITF
Highest rankingNo. 38 (23 September 1996)
Grand Slam doubles results
Australian Open2R (1995, 1998)
French Open3R (1990, 1996, 1999)
Wimbledon2R (1997)
US Open2R (1995)
Mixed doubles
Career record0–1
Grand Slam mixed doubles results
French Open1R (1997)
Team competitions
Fed Cup8–8 (50.0%)
(singles 5–6; doubles 3-2)

Her professional tennis career spanned from 1988 to 2001. Pampoulova's career-high singles ranking is world No. 62, her career-high doubles ranking is No. 38, both achieved in September 1996.

Tennis career

Pampoulova played for Bulgaria and the Bulgaria Fed Cup team from 1988 to 1992. Pampoulova was one of only three players to represent Bulgaria in tennis at the 1992 Olympics in Barcelona (together with Katerina Maleeva and Magdalena Maleeva).

From 1997 to 1999, Elena played for the Germany Fed Cup team. She won 13 career titles in singles (one WTA Tour) and 11 titles in doubles (three of them from WTA Tour).

Her first tennis coach was her own mother, Bulgarian tennis player Lubka Radkova. Elena's father, Emilian Pampoulov, is also a tennis player.

Personal life

On 11 July 2006, Pampoulova married her long-time boyfriend, Swiss banker Christian Bergomi. Their son Alex was born in early 2008. The couple lived in Switzerland,[1] where Elena was an asset manager.[2] In June 2022 she was found guilty of money laundering offences together with Credit Suisse and three other defendants. Prior to the trial, Credit Suisse unreservedly rejected as meritless all allegations raised against her and [was] convinced that she [was] innocent.[3] Both the bank and Pampoulova announced their intentions to appeal the court decision.[4]

Pampoulova died on 19 April 2023, at the age of 50.[5]

WTA career finals

Singles: 2 (1 title, 1 runner–up)

Legend
Tier I tournaments
Tier II tournaments
Tier III tournaments
Tier IV tournaments (1–1)
Tier V tournaments (0–0)
Finals by surface
Hard (1–0)
Clay (0–1)
Grass (0–0)
Carpet (0–0)
ResultW–L   Date   TournamentTierSurfaceOpponentScore
Win1–0Nov 1994Surabaya Classic, IndonesiaTier IVHard Ai Sugiyama2–6, 6–0 ret.
Loss1–1Aug 1998Sopot Open, PolandTier IVClay Henrieta Nagyová3–6, 7–5, 1–6

Doubles: 8 (3 titles, 5 runner-ups)

Legend
Tier I tournaments
Tier II tournaments
Tier III tournaments (1–0)
Tier IV tournaments (2–3)
Tier V tournaments (0–2)
Finals by surface
Hard (0–1)
Clay (3–4)
Grass (0–0)
Carpet (0–0)
ResultW–L   Date   TournamentTierSurfacePartnerOpponentsScore
Loss0–1Aug 1989Sofia Open, BulgariaTier VClay Silke Meier Laura Garrone
Laura Golarsa
4–6, 5–7
Loss0–2Sep 1989Athens Trophy, GreeceTier VClay Silke Meier Sandra Cecchini
Patricia Tarabini
6–4, 4–6, 2–6
Loss0–3Sep 1996Karlovy Vary, Czech RepublicTier IVClay Eva Martincová Karina Habšudová
Helena Suková
6–3, 3–6, 2–6
Win1–3Sep 1996Warsaw Open, PolandTier IIIClay Olga Lugina Alexandra Fusai
Laura Garrone
1–6, 6–4, 7–5
Loss1–4Jan 1997Auckland Classic, New ZealandTier IVHard Aleksandra Olsza Janette Husárová
Dominique Monami
2–6, 7–6(7–5), 3–6
Loss1–5Apr 1997Hungarian Ladies Open, HungaryTier IVClay Eva Martincová Amanda Coetzer
Alexandra Fusai
3–6, 1–6
Win2–5Jul 1998Palermo Ladies Open, ItalyTier IVClay Pavlina Nola Barbara Schett
Patty Schnyder
6–4, 6–2
Win3–5Aug 1999Knokke-Heist, BelgiumTier IVClay Eva Martincová Evgenia Kulikovskaya
Sandra Načuk
3–6, 6–3, 6–3

ITF Circuit finals

Singles: 14 (12 titles, 2 runner–ups)

Legend
$100,000 tournaments
$75,000 tournaments
$50,000 tournaments
$25,000 tournaments
$10,000 tournaments
Finals by surface
Hard (6–0)
Clay (5–1)
Grass (0–0)
Carpet (1–1)
ResultW–L   Date   TournamentTierSurfaceOpponentScore
Win1–0Oct 1988ITF Baden, Switzerland10,000Hard (i) Katarzyna Nowak6–1, 6–1
Win2–0Dec 1988ITF Melbourne, Australia10,000Hard Xóchitl Escobedo7–6(7–3), 6–2
Win3–0May 1989ITF Athens, Greece10,000Clay Dora Rangelova6–1, 6–7, 6–1
Win4–0Jul 1989ITF Erlangen, West Germany25,000Clay Wiltrud Probst6–1, 2–6, 6–3
Win5–0Aug 1989ITF Budapest, Hungary25,000Clay Silke Frankl6–4, 6–7, 6–0
Win6–0Jul 1990ITF Stuttgart-Vaihingen, West Germany25,000Clay Denisa Krajčovičová6–3, 6–3
Loss6–1Nov 1992ITF Nottingham, UK25,000Carpet (i) Elena Makarova6–3, 2–6, 5–7
Loss6–2Mar 1994ITF Reims, France25,000Clay (i) Catherine Mothes-Jobkel1–6, 2–6
Win7–2Oct 1994ITF Jakarta, Indonesia50,000Clay Hiromi Nagano6–4, 6–1
Win8–2Dec 1995ITF Limoges, France50,000Hard (i) Paula Hermida7–5, 6–3
Win9–2Feb 1996ITF Redbridge, Great Britain25,000Hard (i) Haruka Inoue6–4, 6–4
Win10–2Mar 1996ITF Southampton, UK50,000Carpet (i) Isabelle Demongeot6–3, 4–6, 6–4
Win11–2Apr 1996ITF Murcia, Spain75,000Clay Patty Schnyder6–4, 6–3
Win12–2Mar 1998ITF Woodlands, United States25,000Hard Anna Smashnova2–6, 6–1, 7–5

Doubles: 13 (8 titles, 5 runner–ups)

Legend
$100,000 tournaments
$75,000 tournaments
$50,000 tournaments
$25,000 tournaments
$10,000 tournaments
Finals by surface
Hard (3–2)
Clay (3–2)
Grass (0–0)
Carpet (2–1)
ResultW–L   Date   TournamentTierSurfacePartnerOpponentsScore
Loss0–1Dec 1988ITF Melbourne, Australia10,000Hard Kristin Godridge Natalia Leipus
Bernadette Randall
4–6, 7–6(7–5), 2–6
Win1–1Apr 1989ITF Bari, Italy10,000Clay Marion Maruska Andrea Noszály
Eva-Maria Schürhoff
w/o
Win2–1Jun 1992ITF Modena, Italy25,000Clay Ruxandra Dragomir Alexandra Fusai
Natalie Tschan
6–3, 7–6(7–5)
Loss2–2Jul 1992ITF Stuttgart-Vaihingen, Germany25,000Clay Joannette Kruger Eva Martincová
Pavlína Rajzlová
4–6, 0–6
Loss2–3Nov 1992ITF Manchester, UK25,000Carpet (i) Natalie Tschan Elena Likhovtseva
Elena Makarova
3–6, 4–6
Win3–3Nov 1992ITF Nottingham, UK25,000Carpet (i) Els Callens Ruxandra Dragomir
Irina Spîrlea
7–6(7–3), 6–4
Win4–3Apr 1993ITF Limoges, France25,000Carpet (i) Silvia Farina Elia Stephanie Reece
Danielle Scott
6–2, 6–7(5–7), 6–2
Win5–3Oct 1993ITF Poitiers, France25,000Hard (i) Olga Lugina Els Callens
Nancy Feber
6–4, 3–6, 6–3
Win6–3Dec 1994ITF Cergy-Pontoise, France50,000Hard (i) Angelique Olivier Kateřina Sisková
Eva Melicharová
6–1, 6–4
Win7–3Oct 1995ITF Lakeland, United States50,000Hard Eva Martincová Sandra Cacic
Tracey Morton-Rodgers
1–6, 6–2, 6–1
Loss7–4Dec 1995ITF Limoges, France50,000Hard (i) Eva Martincová Eva Melicharová
Helena Vildová
3–6, 6–0, 4–6
Win8–4Aug 1997ITF Makarska, Croatia75,000Clay Olga Lugina Maria Goloviznina
Evgenia Kulikovskaya
5–7, 7–5, 7–5
Loss8–5Apr 1998ITF Prostějov, Czech Republic75,000Clay Olga Lugina Lenka Cenková
Kateřina Sisková
4–6, 6–4, 4–6

Fed Cup

Elena Pampoulova debuted for the Bulgaria Fed Cup team in 1988. She has a 5–6 singles record and a 3–2 doubles record (8–8 overall).

Singles (5–6)

EditionRoundDateAgainstSurfaceOpponentW/LResult
1988 World Group IQR4 December 1988  PhilippinesHard Sarah RafaelW6–3, 6–2
R15 December 1988  Sweden Catarina LindqvistL5–7, 3–6
PO6 December 1988  Malta Carol Cassar-TorreggianiW7–6(7–5), 6–3
PO7 December 1988  Netherlands Brenda Schultz-McCarthyL6–4, 6–7(5–7), 5–7
1990 World Group IQR21 July 1990  PhilippinesHard Sarah CastillejoW6–2, 6–0
R122 July 1990  Austria Judith WiesnerL0–6, 0–6
PO23 July 1990  Norway Amy Jonsson-RåholtW6–4, 6–3
PO24 July 1990  Brazil Cláudia ChabalgoityL2–6, 6–2, 4–6
1992 World Group I play-offsPO17 July 1992  HungaryClay Anna FöldényiL4–6, 2–6
↓  Representing  Germany  ↓
1999 World Group IIQF24 April 1999  JapanClay Shinobu AsagoeL6–7(6–8), 1–6
25 April 1999 Miho SaekiW7–6(10–8), 6–3

Doubles (3–2)

EditionRoundDatePartnerAgainstSurfaceOpponentsW/LResult
1988 World Group IR15 December 1988 Galia Angelova  SwedenHard Jonna Jonerup
Maria Lindström
L6–2, 6–7(5–7), 1–6
1990 World Group IPO23 July 1990 Dora Rangelova  NorwayHard Amy Jonsson-Råholt
Astrid Sunde
W4–6, 6–2, 6–3
1992 World Group I play-offsRPO16 July 1992 Magdalena Maleeva  RomaniaHard Ruxandra Dragomir
Irina Spîrlea
L6–7(5–7), 2–6
RPO17 July 1992 Katerina Maleeva  Hungary Virág Csurgó
Kata Györke
W7–6(8–6), 4–6, 6–1
↓  Representing  Germany  ↓
1997 World Group IQF2 March 1997 Barbara Rittner  Czech RepublicHard (I) Eva Martincová
Ludmila Richterová
W7–6(7–3), 6–2

Grand Slam singles performance timeline

Key
W F SFQF#RRRQ#DNQANH
(W) winner; (F) finalist; (SF) semifinalist; (QF) quarterfinalist; (#R) rounds 4, 3, 2, 1; (RR) round-robin stage; (Q#) qualification round; (DNQ) did not qualify; (A) absent; (NH) not held; (SR) strike rate (events won / competed); (W–L) win–loss record.
Tournament19881989199019911992199319941995199619971998199920002001Career W–L
Australian OpenAA2RAAAA1RA1R2R2RAA3–5
French OpenAA2R1RAQ1Q11R1R1R2R2RQ3A3–7
WimbledonAAA2RAAA1R1RA1R3RAA3–5
US OpenAA1RAAAA1R2R3R1R1RAA3–6
Win–loss0–00–02–31–20–00–00–00–41–32–32–44–40–00–012–23

Notes

External links