Dimitar Kuzmanov

Dimitar Kuzmanov (Bulgarian: Димитър Кузманов, pronounced [diˈmitɐr ˈkuzmɐnɔf] ^ⓘ; nickname: Miko; born 28 July 1993) is a Bulgarian professional tennis player who competes on the ATP Challenger Tour. His career-high singles ranking is No. 159 achieved on 29 August 2022 and his best doubles ranking is No. 438 achieved on 1 April 2019.

Dimitar Kuzmanov was born in Plovdiv, Bulgaria, the son of Savko Kuzmanov (an aeronautical engineer) and Dora Rangelova (Bulgaria Fed Cup team's former tennis player and present team captain). His maternal family is entirely related to the sport. Dora's father Zdravko Rangelov, who is one of the founders of tennis in Plovdiv, has been a tennis player and longtime coach in Tennis Club Lokomotiv, whilst her mother has been a volleyball player and coach. Dora's brother, Stefan Rangelov is a former tennis player and present tennis coach. Kuzmanov began playing tennis aged six when his mother Dora took him to play on courts of Tennis Club Lokomotiv Plovdiv, and Stefan was the man, that gave him a tennis racket and started training. Through the years, Dimitar Kuzmanov has established himself as a player who has won many national and international tournaments, he is a champion of Bulgaria in different age groups and participant in Bulgaria national tennis teams, including Davis Cup team.

Dimitar Kuzmanov joined the Tennis Europe Junior Tour competition in 2005. During this period he played very successfully, achieving a record of 57–16 W/L (MD only) and No. 1 in Tennis Europe Junior Ranking (see below). He won 5 (singles) titles: Dema Cup U12 – Sofia and Haskovo Cup U16 – Haskovo, in Bulgaria; Novi Sad Open Raiffeisen Cup U16 – Novi Sad, Serbia; 45th Torneo del Avvenire U16 – Milan and 5th Edizione Torneo Int. U16 Memorial Tato Serina – Crema in Italy and 2 (doubles) titles: Dema Cup U12 – Sofia, Bulgaria and ''Novi Sad open Raiffeisen Cup U16 – Novi Sad, Serbia.

In addition, Kuzmanov played final of the tournaments: BBB Cup U14 – Sofia, Bulgaria; Trofeo Ajuntament De Torello U16 – Torello, Spain; 6th Citta di Montecatini U16 – Montecatini, Italy; Le Pont des Generations U16 – Le Pont, France; Bergant Memorial 2008 U16 – Maribor, Slovenia and semi-final of the tournaments: Bankia Cup U14 – Bankia, Bulgaria; Citta di Pescara U14 – Pescara, Italy; Tennis Jungsten Cup U14 – Koln, Germany; Raiffeisen Jason Cup U16 – Novi Sad, Serbia; Galeja Open Raiffeisen Cup U16 – Maribor, Slovenia and Mondial Paris Cadets Trophee Lagardere U16 – Paris, France.

In 2007 Kuzmanov played semi-final at East European Tennis Championship U14 – Tallinn, Estonia.

Because of his performance in the tournament, he was invited in ITF U14 & U16 Development Programme, that supported him from 2007 to 2009. As a result, 2009 became most successful year of this period (see below).

Kuzmanov started playing in ITF Junior Circuit in 2008 and even in his third participation in tournaments of this level he reached to a final – it happened at Dema Cup U18 – Sofia, Bulgaria, where he lost in a very competitive match. During the period 2008 – 2011 he made a record of 53–24 W/L in singles matches and 17–18 W/L in doubles matches in the main draw only. His most significant achievements are reaching to a final singles match at 2011 European Junior Championships U18 – Klosters, Switzerland and semi-final doubles match at 2011 Roland Garros Junior Championships U18 – Paris, France, as well as winning 2 singles titles at Plovdiv Cup U18 – Plovdiv and Kenana CUP U18 – Haskovo in Bulgaria. In addition, Kuzmanov played 4 singles finals: 12th Serbia Junior Open U18 – Novi Sad, Serbia; Plovdiv Cup U18 – Plovdiv, Bulgaria; 33rd Profstav Slovakia Cup U18 – 2011 – Piestani, Slovakia; Dema Cup U18 – Sofia, Bulgaria and 2 doubles finals: Plovdiv Cup U18 – Plovdiv, Bulgaria and Copa Milo-ChileDeportes 2010 U18 – Santiago, Chile as well as 1 singles semi-final: 23rd Czech International Junior Indoor Championships U18 – Prerov, Czech Republic.

Dimitar Kuzmanov made his professional debut at Bulgaria F2 ITF Futures Tournament – at age of 15 years and 9 months. Late in season, he played 2 more ITF Futures tournaments and won his first ATP ranking points. He continued to play tournaments at Tennis Europe and ITF Junior level and this year is definitely one of his most successful years as a junior player. Kuzmanov rose to No. 1 for Boys U16 in Tennis Europe Ranking (26 June 2009) and was honored as "Player of the Tennis Europe Junior for Boys U16 – 2009" becoming the first Bulgarian in the history who had won this prestigious award for this age group. He finished the year as No. 1 in Tennis Europe Ranking.