Bella Lorenzini was put in an uncomfortable spot at the USTA Midwest Closed 16U Championships held in Indianapolis.
She and partner Chiara Lommer captured the doubles title on June 25. The next day, the incoming Hinsdale Central sophomore squared off against Lommer for the singles title.
“We played the doubles final before the singles, so it wasn’t going to be too awkward,” Lorenzini said. “I’ve known her for a while and we’ve played together a lot. We both obviously wanted to win. It was a fair match and we were competitive.”
On this day, Lorenzini earned bragging rights over the Glenview native, picking up a grueling 6-0, 3-6, 7-6 (4) victory.
“It was such a long match,” Lorenzini said. “I came out and had a very good set. She came back in the second, and the third set was so good. She battled back on three or four of my match points. But I played super aggressive and pulled it out. I have so much respect for her and it was such a good match.”
Lorenzini went into the tourney with the No. 3 seed and made quick work of her early opponents, picking up wins over Hannah Cimpeanu (6-1, 6-1) and Erika Oku (6-1, 6-3). The road then got much tougher, with three of her next four matches going three sets.
She beat Alessandra Bianco (7-6 (3), 3-6, 7-5), Kate Ketels (6-2, 4-6, 6-1), Claire Reifeis (6-3, 6-4) and Alexandra Sanford (4-6, 6-3, 6-1) to get to the finals.
“I came into this tournament just taking it one match at a time,” Lorenzini said. “All those early matches helped me prepare for the semifinals and finals. Of course my goal was to win the whole thing, but I came in all business, just taking it one point at a time.”
Lorenzini is familiar with success, taking second place in the IHSA singles finals last fall. She’s won a couple of national open tournaments and is 11th in the USTA national standings for ages 16 and under.
She had her sights set on winning the Midwest Closed after previously making it to the quarterfinals of the 14-under tournament.
“This is definitely a big one,” Lorenzini said. “It felt awesome and now I’m ranked No. 1 in the Midwest.”
Lorenzini won’t have much time to sit around and enjoy her title. She was back in action last week in the USTA Intersectional Team Championships in Louisiana. She’s scheduled to participate in the National Clay Court Championships in Virginia and the National Hard Court Championships in California later this summer.
The Lorenzini family knows all about success in tennis.
Her brother, Michael Lorenzini is an incoming senior who played this spring for Hinsdale Central before leaving the team right before the state meet.
Their sister Caroline Lorenzini, who played her freshman year at Army, won two state doubles titles at Hinsdale Central. Ronnie Lorenzini, who graduated from Hinsdale Central this spring, also competed on the USTA circuit.
Like his sister, Michael Lorenzini is busy this summer competing in 18-under tournaments. He’s served as a good example, she said.
“My brother Michael has had so many great accomplishments,” she said. “I look up to him because he’s been doing so well. And now I’m gaining confidence so I go into these tournaments expecting the best out of myself.”
Big brother, has enjoyed watching his little sister shine on the courts.
“I’m definitely proud of her,” Michael Lorenzini said. “It’s really cool to see her succeed at this level. She leaves it all on the court and is a great competitor and she deserved to win the closed.”
