Weil’s Bozhidar Katsarov rises to Top 5 Boys 16s in the US –
Wins 2006 Copper Bowl National Boys 18s Title!
 2005
was an incredible year for 16 yr old Bozhidar Katsarov and 2006 looks to be
an even better year as Bo captured his 1st Boys 18s National Title at the Copper
Bowl in Tucson, Arizona.
His record to date is an incredible 76-9 and he is ranked Top 5 after entering
the year not ranked in the top 500 US!
Katsarov moved to Weil in late 2004 from Bulgaria where he was ranked #3 in
his country. But with no US ranking upon his arrival, Bo was unable to gain
entry into any USTA National events. But By April of 2005, Bo had gotten his
ranking up to the top 200 US in Boys 16s by making the final of the USTA Level
1 Event at Carson, CA . Bo defeated 3 seeded players in the draw to reach the
final against #1 seed and Top 10 ranked Denis Nevolo of Chicago. Bo fought hard
and lost the final 7-6, 6-2, but used the tournament to propel himself into
an incredible spring and summer tour.
In late April, Bo won the prestigious Ojai Boys 16s Title. Then in May, Bo
entered and won 3 straight USTA Nationals: the Muterspaw in Las Vegas, the National
Open in Sacramento and the Quiksilver in Costa Mesa, CA. In June, Bo was then
asked to represent Southern California in the Maze Cup and went undefeated there,
reached the semis of the So. California Sectionals taking 3rd overall, represented
So. California again at the Intersectional going undefeated again as the team
reached the semifinals, reached the quarterfinals of the USTA National Boys
16s Clay Courts losing to eventual champion Tyler Hochwalt, and entered the
USTA National Hard Courts seeded #12 and ranked in the top 20!
At the Hard Courts at Kalamazoo with a #12 seeding, Bozhidar was ready to gain
the respect he felt he deserved in the US. He reached the Rd. of 32, lost a
tough 3 setter to #11 ranked Andy Magee, and then went on another winning tear
in the back draw beating 3 players in the top 30 US including Ryan Thacher,
Matt Allare and Jamare Jenkins. Bo then got his biggest win to date by defeating
#6 Matuesz Kecki in 3 sets to reach the consolation semifinals.
Bo also teamed with academy teammate Kelvin Kim to take 3rd place in the Boys
18s Doubles at the USTA Winter National in Phoenix, Arizona. Bo and Kelvin both
earned Bronze Balls for their performance.
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