With lessons learned Loeb returns to Midland semifinals

MIDLAND, Mich.—Just four months ago, Jamie Loeb was contemplating taking a break from tennis. Now she’s into the semifinals of the W100 ITF in Midland, Mich. after wins over Mona Barthel, Robin Anderson and Catherine Harrison.

Last year, the 24-year-old former North Carolina standout was having a tough time on the tour. She wasn’t enjoying being on court, and doubt crept in after a rough 2019 season. Though she was awarded the Oracle $100,000 grant, her results weren't where she wanted them to be.

The negative roll actually started at the 2019 Dow Tennis Classic in Midland, where she was defending the most points of her career after reaching the final in 2018.

“Two weeks later I sprained my ankle. That was a struggle,” she said. “Learned a lot throughout that time, but ending up playing a couple of tournaments when I definitely shouldn’t have and ended up taking two months off.

"By the time I came back I was just not confident at all.”

Instead of phoning it in, Loeb kept going. She arrived at a W25 ITF in Dallas in October and didn't want to be there. Instead of an early loss, the world No. 329 won it all for her eighth title and her first since 2017.

“Sometimes I’m like, eh, I don’t know what’s going to happen this week," she said. "Some weeks I’m like, alright I got this but then I go and lose first round. And some weeks, like Dallas, I'm like I don't want to be here and I go and win the tournament. Honestly, it’s a coin flip. It’s crazy what your mind can do."

Instead of taking any sort of extended break, Loeb committed to the preseason and continued the grind in 2020, alongside Jermaine Jenkins. He’s the former hitting partner of Venus Williams and former coach of Naomi Osaka, who's now a USTA national coach.

"He's had quite the resume and it's pretty cool to be around him," she said. "He's looking at big picture. He's like Top 100, Top 50; when we're working on things or after matches, if you want to get to this level this isn't going to fly or you need to get better at this."

The New York native is a self-proclaimed perfectionist, which can be both an asset and a hindrance to her game.

"I've learned to try not to define myself as a person with my results. It’s really hard to," she said. "I'm a perfectionist. I want to do well in everything and I want to win and succeed, but I've done a better job of just separating myself from 'The tennis player.' I think that’s a big thing."

If anyone knows that just one week can change an entire season, it's Loeb. In Midland, she takes on Anhelina Kalinina in the semifinals on Saturday. She beat Kalinina in the Dallas final.

"Week after week the mentality just changes depending where you are," Loeb said. "I guess Midland I'm highly motivated here because I really enjoy the people and the crowd, so I'm always up for it."