Last weekend took place the ITA Indoor National Championship 2021, where the eight best college tennis teams of the season competed for the title of national champion.
ITA Indoor National Championship 2021
The ITA Indoor National Championship, where the eight best college tennis teams of the season competed for the title of national champion.
In 2020, the Columbus State Cougars, team of our MAEstar Pietro Martinetti, were crowned champions.
This season, the Cougars again qualified for the tournament. It should be noted that Pietro had not played indoor singles all season, he had only been playing doubles. On the morning of the semifinal, while Pietro was warming up he realized that his back was not quite right. However, he knew he had to give his all to fight for his team. Just before the doubles semifinal, the assistant coach asked him to play singles as well. Pietro, being competitive by nature, knew he could not refuse such an opportunity, so he agreed. In both the doubles and singles semifinals, Pietro made the clinch (the deciding match) winning both matches that gave him the pass to the final.
The next day, the day of the final, Pietro’s back wasn’t bothering him as much, but he says he wasn’t at 100%. However, once at the tournament facilities, the coach asked him if he could play both finals and Pietro did not hesitate to accept. In doubles, Pietro admits that he and his partner had a turbulent start, but the nerves didn’t get the better of them and they soon got their act together. In the tie break (tiebreaker) they won, crowning themselves national doubles champions.
During the individual final, Pietro’s sensations were good throughout the match. As in the semifinal, Pietro clinched and was crowned individual national champion; “I was lucky enough to clinch in the final, which was an incredible feeling.” For the first time in the Cougars’ history, the team has been, for the second consecutive year, national indoor doubles and singles winner.
“It’s a crazy team, we all support each other and we are like a family. The fact that we have done back to back is something incredible” – Pietro M.