How stepping away from tennis helped George Loffhagen find his game again

George Loffhagen is quietly carving out a place for himself among the next wave of British tennis stars. The 24-year-old London-born player is currently ranked on a career-high of world No. 200—a testament to a steady resurgence built on maturity, patience, and renewed love for the sport.

Breakthrough season

This summer marked a breakthrough moment in Loffhagen’s career. In late July, he lifted his first ATP Challenger Tour title at the Open Castilla y León in El Espinar, Segovia, Spain—a reward for months of persistence and self-belief. Since then, the Brit has carried that confidence across Europe’s indoor circuit, reaching the semi-finals at the Hamburg Ladies & Gents Cup two weeks ago after defeating defending champion Henri Squire in the quarterfinals.

Known for his powerful serve and measured, composed baseline game, Loffhagen describes his playing style simply: “I try to play aggressively, serving well. I use a lot of intensity.”

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That combination of precision and control has helped him capture eight ITF World Tennis Tour titles, four of them in 2025 alone—numbers that show just how far he’s come in the past two years.

Hanging up the racquet and coming back

Loffhagen’s path hasn’t been a straight line. In the summer of 2021, he walked away from tennis entirely. “I just wasn’t enjoying it at that time,” he recalls. “I wanted to do something else. I worked in a pub, studied a bit, went to university… and then I played a couple of tournaments and enjoyed it again. I didn’t want to have regrets—so I decided to start again.”

That year off seems to have given him more than rest—it gave him perspective. “When you’re young and you’re doing well, you can see it as pressure,” he says. “Now, I’m a bit older and more mature. It’s easier to deal with the ups and downs of tennis.”

I wanted to do something else. I worked in a pub, studied a bit, went to university… and then I played a couple of tournaments and enjoyed it again. I didn’t want to have regrets—so I decided to start again.

Loffhagen’s rekindled motivation is matched by a newfound sense of calm. Away from the court, he prefers simplicity: relaxing, watching series like The Traitors, or following athletics casually. Despite having studied math, chemistry, and physics—“I was good at it, but I wouldn’t say it’s a passion”—his analytical nature shows in how he approaches his game: measured, methodical, and constantly improving.

Looking ahead, Loffhagen’s ambitions remain realistic yet ambitious. “I was looking to get into the Top 200 by the end of the year,” he says. “You always look for the next thing. It never stops.”

For a player who once left tennis behind, George Loffhagen’s story has become one of quiet persistence and rediscovery—a reminder that sometimes stepping away from the game is what brings you back stronger.