Q&A with UNC tennis standout Jamie Loeb

In her sophomore season, Jamie Loeb won the women’s Singles National Championship, earned ACC Player of the Year and helped lead a North Carolina women’s tennis team that won the ITA National Indoor Intercollegiate Championship.

Loeb has played at the No. 1 singles position for UNC during the last two seasons. On Tuesday, she played in the U.S. Open in Flushing Meadows, N.Y.

Her draw put her up against Caroline Wozniacki, the No. 4 seed in the tournament and the fifth-ranked player in the world. The match took place in Arthur Ashe Stadium, with Wozniacki claiming the 6-2 6-0 win.

Even with a loss, it was a once-in-a-lifetime experience for New York native Loeb.

The Daily Tar Heel staff writer Michael Freije spoke to Loeb on Thursday to talk about her experience at the U.S. Open and her time at North Carolina.

The Daily Tar Heel: What does the U.S. Open mean to you?

Jamie Loeb: It means a lot. I am from New York, and I grew up very close to the tournament, and I went to the U.S. Open every year.

DTH: What was it like growing up so close to the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows?

JL: I felt at home during the tournament because it is so close to where I grew up in New York. It’s like a second home to me.

DTH: How often did you dream of playing there growing up?

JL: I always wanted to play in the tournament. I had trained in nearby facilities like the McEnroe Academy and played in qualifying matches, but not in the actual open.

DTH: What was it like fulfilling that dream?

JL: I was very anxious. I got a lot of texts from friends. It was really cool, especially to play in Arthur Ashe, one of the largest tennis stages in the world.

DTH: What was your reaction to your draw against Caroline Wozniacki?

JL: Obviously there are better draws, but I was very excited to play against such a well-experienced and established player and a formerly ranked No. 1 player in the world.

DTH: How did your UNC teammates and Coach Brian Kalbas help prepare you for this experience?

JL: They were very supportive and sent a lot of good luck texts. Also, Coach Kalbas and the other assistant coaches were there to cheer me on in Arthur Ashe Stadium, which meant a lot.

DTH: Who was there to cheer you on?

JL: My family and friends were there in the stands, which was very cool.

DTH: How did you feel when you first walked onto the court in Arthur Ashe Stadium?

JL: It was surreal. It was probably my favorite part of the tournament. Looking up and seeing all my friends and fans cheering me on was incredible.

DTH: What was your game plan going up against such a strong opponent?

JL: I knew I just wanted to play my game. I knew her backhand was her strongest and her forehand was not as strong. I wanted to be aggressive, attack her and play my game.

DTH: How will you use this incredible opportunity to help this year?

JL: I definitely want to work on my fitness, because so many of these girls are bigger than I am. That alone will help a lot.

DTH: Will you be back at the U.S. Open?

JL: I hope so. Obviously it depends a lot on my ranking and how I play this year, but I would love to be back at the U.S. Open.

@michaelfreije

sports@dailytarheel.com