Name: Jamie Loeb

What city and state did you grow up playing tennis?: Briarcliff Manor, Mt. Kisco, Brewster, Queens and Randalls Island. These are all the places in New York where I trained as a kid and developing junior player

Did you compete post high school for a university, college, if so where?: Yes, I competed at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Go heels!

Did you play multiple sports as a kid? And did you decide to stop playing other sports to just play tennis, if so what age?: Tennis is the only sport I played competitively growing up. I enjoyed playing ping pong, badminton and baseball in my backyard for fun.

What age did you start playing tennis:: Under 5

How many hours per week did you typically train during your junior years?:  6 and under I played 2 hours a week
Ages 11-14 I trained about 10 hours a week
Ages 14-18 I trained about 18 hours a week

What type of coaching structure did you have as a junior?: Private coaching, Group clinics, Tennis academy, High school team

What coaches, clubs, tools were most valuable in your success?: Club Fit in Briarcliff Manor, NY with multiple coaches from age 3-5
Saw Mill Club in Mt. Kisco, NY with Isabel Fernandez from age 5-8
Hardscrabble Club in Brewster, NY with Jay Devashetty from age 8-16
John McEnroe Tennis Academy at Randalls Island, NY with Felix Alvarado from age 16-22

What qualities or skills made your coach(es) effective in your development?: Most of my coaches growing up were excellent at building a strong technical foundation for my game. They encouraged me with positive reinforcement while also helping me recognize areas for improvement. Jay and Felix, in particular, communicated in a way that was clear and easy for me to understand, allowing me to apply their instruction effectively. I had a deep sense of trust in these coaches. The coaches who worked with me under 10 made sure I had fun on the court and kept me engaged. My junior development coaches helped me develop a strong on-court identity and were always willing to work as hard as I did.

How did you balance school and tennis training as a junior?: I attended regular public school until my sophomore year. For the last two years of high school, I switched to a homeschooling program that allowed me to train, travel, and compete more. While I sacrificed time with friends and social events, I remained close to a core group despite my absences. My parents always prioritized education and ensured I kept up with my schoolwork. I remained disciplined and self-motivated, effectively balancing my academics with my tennis training and tournaments.

Does the pathway you used still exist for kids in your area? : Facilities still exist but coaches are gone

What tournaments or competitive pathways were most important in your development?: USTA/ITF Junior Tournaments

Did you have access to physical conditioning, mental coaching or nutrition guidance as a junior?: Yes

What age did you start playing competitively in sanctioned tournaments? How often would you play in a sanctioned event (USTA/UTR/High School Team): I competed in my first USTA tournament when I was 8 years old. I stayed competitive throughout my enter junior career playing USTA sectional and national level events until I was 18. I played high school tennis from 8th grade- 10th grade, winning the state championship for Ossining as a sophomore. From 16-18 I played mainly on the ITF Junior and Pro Circuit and USTA national tournaments.

Looking back, what would you do differently in your junior tennis journey?: I wish I had started playing ITF junior events a year earlier and exposed myself to more pro tournaments when I was 15. I also would have prioritized my overall fitness, strength, conditioning, and overall flexibility from a younger age.

What advice do you have for junior players and their parents today?: Ensure the player continues to have fun and embrace the challenges along the way. Surround yourself with people who genuinely care and have your best interests at heart.