Oct. 22--Even a state championship at this weekend's state tournament might not earn Hinsdale Central junior Isabella Lorenzini the title of best tennis player in her Clarendon Hills family.
Her sister Caroline won consecutive doubles titles in 2010-11, helped the Red Devils win the team title in 2011, and finished third in doubles in 2012.
Brother Michael placed third in singles in 2013, and he contributed to Hinsdale Central's team titles in 2012 and 2013. Another brother, Ronnie, also was a standout for the Red Devils.
"We do talk trash about who is the best," said Isabella Lorenzini, who placed second in state singles as a freshman and sophomore. "I guess it all depends on who talks. I do some talking. I just say I'm the best."
Colleen and Ron Lorenzini started teaching the sport to their children at a young age at the Hinsdale Racquet Club. Caroline is now a junior on Army's team, Michael is a freshman for Northwestern's squad, and Ronnie plays club tennis as a sophomore at Indiana.
"When they were younger, people would always ask who was the best," Colleen said, "but nobody in the family would say anything."
Isabella's place among her family members is debatable; her status among the best in the state is not. After the heartache of the last two years, she is one of the favorites to win the individual state championship Saturday at Buffalo Grove High School.
Naperville Central's Tiffany Chen will be one key rival. She defeated Lorenzini in the 2013 final, while Lorenzini won a rematch in last year's semifinals. Last year, Lorenzini fell to Carmel senior Brienne Minor in a grueling, three-hour, three-set final.
"It was a great opportunity being in the finals the last two years," Lorenzini said. "I played two tough opponents two years in a row. They were amazing matches."
Lorenzini is ranked the No. 29 college recruit nationally in the Class of 2017 by tennisrecruiting.net. She is 12-0 this fall, playing sparingly in the regular season because of recruiting trips after a busy spring and summer of national tournaments.
Hinsdale Central coach Scott Radecki, who also coaches the school's boys program and professionally, hopes to see Lorenzini cap her time as a prep player with her first individual title and the Red Devils' third straight as a team.
"Isabella is a bulldog," Radecki said. "When she steps on the court, it's almost like a street fight for her. She doesn't like to lose and works hard. I've been around this program for years, and in my eyes, she's one of the best."
Lorenzini has yet to be extended to a third set this season, but a potential rematch looms with the top-seeded Chen this weekend.
"This year I'm approaching it one match at a time," she said. "I'm not going to look ahead. I'm just concentrating on the first day and the first match. Everyone is good at this point."
Bob Narang is a freelance reporter for the Chicago Tribune.
Girls tennis state tournament
When: Thursday-Saturday.
Where: Buffalo Grove High School.
Defending team champion: Hinsdale Central.
2014 singles champion: Carmel senior Brienne Minor (graduated).
Defending doubles champion: Vinaya Rao Katherine Harvey (Stevenson).
Others to watch in singles: Tiffany Chen, Naperville Central (1st in 2013); Alessandra Bianco, Latin; Asuka Kawai, Palatine.
Others to watch in doubles: Colette Catherine O'Regan (Glenbrook North).
