Lori McNeil

Lori McNeil (born December 18, 1963) is an American tennis coach and former top 10 professional tennis player. McNeil was a singles semifinalist at the US Open in 1987 and Wimbledon in 1994, a women's doubles finalist at the Australian Open in 1987 with Zina Garrison and French Open mixed-doubles winner in 1988 with Jorge Lozano.

Lori McNeil
Country (sports) United States
ResidenceHouston, Texas
Born (1963-12-18) December 18, 1963
San Diego, California
Height1.70 m (5 ft 7 in)
Turned pro1983
Retired2002
PlaysRight-handed (one handed-backhand)
Prize money$3,441,604
Singles
Career record436–309
Career titles10
Highest rankingNo. 9 (July 4, 1988)
Grand Slam Singles results
Australian OpenQF (1987)
French Open3R (1988, 1992, 1994)
WimbledonSF (1994)
US OpenSF (1987)
Doubles
Career record605–335
Career titles33
Highest rankingNo. 4 (November 9, 1987)
Grand Slam Doubles results
Australian OpenF (1987)
French OpenQF (1987, 1992, 1993)
WimbledonSF (1987)
US OpenSF (1995, 1996)
Mixed doubles
Career titles1
Grand Slam Mixed Doubles results
Australian OpenSF (1997)
French OpenW (1988)
WimbledonF (1994)
US OpenQF (1992)

Personal

McNeil was born the youngest of four siblings to mother Dorothy and father Charlie McNeil, who played professional football with the San Diego Chargers during the 1960s. Moving from San Diego to Houston, McNeil developed her tennis skills at MacGregor Park playground, a public facility in the Third Ward district. It was there she became close childhood friends with fellow future professional tennis player, Zina Garrison.[1]

Career

Lori McNeil attended Oklahoma State University for two years and played tennis for the Cowgirls, reaching the 1983 NCAA quarterfinals (losing to eventual champion Beth Herr from USC).

McNeil played on the WTA Tour for 19 years from 1983–2002. She won a total of 10 singles and 33 doubles titles during her career. Her career-high world rankings were No. 9 in singles (in 1988) and No. 4 in doubles (in 1987).

In 1987, McNeil received the WTA Most Improved Player of the Year award.

McNeil is perhaps best remembered for her results against Steffi Graf. In 1992, she defeated Graf 7–6, 6–4 in the first round of the WTA Tour Championships, marking the first time since 1985 that Graf had lost in the opening round of a tournament. Then, in 1994, McNeil beat Graf 7–5, 7–6 in the first round at Wimbledon, the first time in Grand Slam history that a defending champion had suffered a first-round loss.

That year, McNeil went on to reach the semifinals at Wimbledon before losing to eventual-champion Conchita Martínez, 6–3, 2–8, 8–10. This equalled McNeil's best-ever Grand Slam singles performance – she also reached the semifinals at the US Open in 1987 (after defeating six-time champion Chris Evert in the quarterfinals) where she lost to Graf, 6–4, 2–6, 4–6.

Despite never winning a women's doubles Grand Slam title, she reached the quarterfinal stage or better on 22 occasions at Grand Slam level, and won multiple WTA Tour doubles titles with many of the leading doubles players of the era, including Martina Navratilova, Gigi Fernández, Rennae Stubbs, Katrina Adams, Zina Garrison and Helena Suková.

From 2001-2004, McNeil coached former top-5 player Amanda Coetzer. Partnering together, coach and student reached the doubles quarterfinals of the 2002 Australian Open. In 2004 and 2008, McNeil was also Assistant Coach to the US Olympic tennis teams. [2]

In 2006, McNeil was inducted into the ITA Hall of Fame.

Grand Slam finals

Doubles: 1 (runner-up)
Result Year Tournament Surface Partner Opponents Score
Loss1987Australian OpenGrass Zina Garrison Martina Navratilova
Pam Shriver		6–1, 6–0

Mixed doubles: 4 (1 title, 3 runner-ups)
Result Year Tournament Surface Partner Opponents Score
Loss1987French OpenClay Sherwood Stewart Pam Shriver
Emilio Sánchez		6–3, 7–6(7–4)
Win1988French OpenClay Jorge Lozano Brenda Schultz
Michiel Schapers		7–5, 6–2
Loss1992French OpenClay Bryan Shelton Arantxa Sánchez Vicario
Mark Woodforde		6–2, 6–3
Loss1994WimbledonGrass T. J. Middleton Helena Suková
Todd Woodbridge		3–6, 7–5, 6–3

WTA career finals

Singles: 21 (10 titles, 11 runner-ups)
Legend
Grand Slam tournaments (0–0)
Tier I (0–1)
Tier II (1–0)
Tier III (2–2)
Tier IV (2–1)
Tier V (3–2)
Virginia Slims (2–5)
Finals by surface
Hard (4–3)
Grass (4–2)
Clay (0–1)
Carpet (2–5)
Result W/L Date Tournament Surface Opponent Score
Loss 0–1 Feb 1986 Oklahoma City Carpet (i) Marcella Mesker 4–6, 6–4, 3–6
Loss 0–2 Jul 1986 Newport Grass Pam Shriver 4–6, 2–6
Win 1–2 Sep 1986 Tampa Hard Zina Garrison 2–6, 7–5, 6–2
Win 2–2 Sep 1986 Tulsa Hard Beth Herr 6–0, 6–1
Loss 2–3 Feb 1987 Oklahoma City Hard Elizabeth Smylie 6–4, 3–6, 5–7
Loss 2–4 Mar 1987 Piscataway Carpet (i) Helena Suková 0–6, 3–6
Loss 2–5 Sep 1987 New Orleans Carpet (i) Chris Evert 3–6, 5–7
Win 3–5 Feb 1988 Oklahoma City Carpet (i) Brenda Schultz 6–3, 6–2
Loss 3–6 May 1988 Geneva Clay Barbara Paulus 4–6, 7–5, 1–6
Win 4–6 Jul 1988 Newport Grass Barbara Potter 6–4, 4–6, 6–3
Loss 4–7 Jan 1989 Tokyo Carpet (i) Martina Navratilova 7–6(7–3), 3–6, 6–7(5–7)
Win 5–7 Aug 1989 Albuquerque Hard Elna Reinach 6–1, 6–3
Win 6–7 Feb 1991 Denver Carpet (i) Manon Bollegraf 6–3, 6–4
Win 7–7 Apr 1991 Tokyo Hard Sabine Appelmans 2–6, 6–2, 6–1
Loss 7–8 Jul 1991 Westchester Hard Isabelle Demongeot 4–6, 4–6
Loss 7–9 Feb 1992 Oklahoma City Hard (i) Zina Garrison 5–7, 6–3, 5–7(10)
Win 8–9 Jun 1992 Eastbourne Grass Linda Wild 6–4, 6–4
Win 9–9 Jun 1993 Birmingham Grass Zina Garrison 6–4, 2–6, 6–3
Win 10–9 Jun 1994 Birmingham Grass Zina Garrison 6–2, 6–2
Loss 10–10 Jun 1995 Birmingham Grass Zina Garrison 3–6, 3–6
Loss 10–11 Nov 1995 Philadelphia Carpet (i) Steffi Graf 1–6, 6–4, 3–6

Doubles: 64 (33 titles, 31 runner-ups)
Legend
Grand Slam tournaments (0–1)
Tier I (3–2)
Tier II (4–8)
Tier III (8–5)
Tier IV (4–2)
Tier V (4–3)
Virginia Slims (10–10)
Finals by surface
Hard (13–9)
Grass (4–3)
Clay (6–7)
Carpet (10–12)
Result No. Date Tournament Surface Partner Opponents Score
Win 1. September 26, 1983 Bakersfield Hard Kylie Copeland Ann Henricksson
Patricia Medrado		 6–4, 6–3
Loss 1. April 1, 1985 Seabrook Island Clay Elise Burgin Svetlana Parkhomenko
Larisa Savchenko		 1–6, 3–6
Win 2. October 21, 1985 Brighton Carpet (i) Catherine Suire Barbara Potter
Helena Suková		 4–6, 7–6(3), 6–4
Loss 2. February 24, 1986 Oklahoma City Carpet (i) Catherine Suire Marcella Mesker
Pascale Paradis		 6–2, 6–7(1), 1–6
Loss 3. October 6, 1986 Zürich Carpet (i) Alycia Moulton Steffi Graf
Gabriela Sabatini		 6–1, 4–6, 4–6
Win 3. October 27, 1986 Indianapolis Hard (i) Zina Garrison Candy Reynolds
Anne Smith		 4–5 ret.
Win 4. November 10, 1986 San Juan Hard Mercedes Paz Gigi Fernández
Robin White		 6–2, 3–6, 6–4
Win 5. December 1, 1986 Buenos Aires Clay Mercedes Paz Manon Bollegraf
Nicole Jagerman		 6–1, 2–6, 6–1
Loss 4. January 12, 1987 Australian Open Grass Zina Garrison Martina Navratilova
Pam Shriver		 1–6, 0–6
Loss 5. February 9, 1987 Oklahoma City Hard Kim Sands Svetlana Parkhomenko
Larisa Savchenko		 4–6, 4–6
Loss 6. March 23, 1987 Washington D.C. Carpet (i) Zina Garrison Elise Burgin
Pam Shriver		 1–6, 6–3, 4–6
Win 6. March 29, 1987 Piscataway Carpet (i) Gigi Fernández Betsy Nagelsen
Elizabeth Smylie		 6–1, 6–4
Loss 7. April 6, 1987 Hilton Head Clay Zina Garrison Mercedes Paz
Eva Pfaff		 6–7(6), 5–7
Loss 8. April 20, 1987 Houston Clay Zina Garrison Kathy Jordan
Martina Navratilova		 2–6, 4–6
Win 7. July 13, 1987 Newport Grass Gigi Fernández Anne Hobbs
Kathy Jordan		 7–6(5), 7–5
Loss 9. August 10, 1987 Los Angeles Hard Zina Garrison Martina Navratilova
Pam Shriver		 3–6, 4–6
Win 8. August 17, 1987 Toronto Hard Zina Garrison Claudia Kohde-Kilsch
Helena Suková		 6–1, 6–2
Win 9. August 24, 1987 Mahwah Hard Gigi Fernández Anne Hobbs
Elizabeth Smylie		 6–3, 6–2
Win 10. September 28, 1987 New Orleans Carpet (i) Zina Garrison Peanut Louie Harper
Heather Ludloff		 6–3, 6–4
Loss 10. October 12, 1987 Filderstadt Carpet (i) Zina Garrison Martina Navratilova
Pam Shriver		 1–6, 2–6
Loss 11. November 9, 1987 Chicago Carpet (i) Zina Garrison Claudia Kohde-Kilsch
Helena Suková		 4–6, 3–6
Win 11. February 8, 1988 Dallas Carpet (i) Eva Pfaff Gigi Fernández
Zina Garrison		 2–6, 6–4, 7–5
Win 12. February 29, 1988 San Antonio Hard Helena Suková Rosalyn Fairbank
Gretchen Magers		 6–3, 6–7(5), 6–2
Win 13. April 4, 1988 Hilton Head Clay Martina Navratilova Claudia Kohde-Kilsch
Gabriela Sabatini		 6–2, 2–6, 6–3
Loss 12. April 18, 1988 Houston Clay Martina Navratilova Katrina Adams
Zina Garrison		 7–6(4), 2–6, 4–6
Loss 13. July 11, 1988 Newport Grass Gigi Fernández Rosalyn Fairbank
Barbara Potter		 4–6, 3–6
Loss 14. October 3, 1988 New Orleans Hard Betsy Nagelsen Beth Herr
Candy Reynolds		 4–6, 4–6
Win 14. October 24, 1988 Brighton Carpet (i) Betsy Nagelsen Isabelle Demongeot
Nathalie Tauziat		 7–6(5), 2–6, 7–6(4)
Win 15. November 7, 1988 Chicago Carpet (i) Betsy Nagelsen Larisa Savchenko
Natasha Zvereva		 6–4, 3–6, 6–4
Loss 15. November 28, 1988 Adelaide Hard Jana Novotná Sylvia Hanika
Claudia Kohde-Kilsch		 5–7, 7–6(4), 4–6
Win 16. February 27, 1989 Oklahoma City Hard (i) Betsy Nagelsen Elise Burgin
Elizabeth Smylie		 w/o
Loss 16. March 20, 1989 Key Biscayne Hard Gigi Fernández Jana Novotná
Helena Suková		 6–7(5), 4–6
Loss 17. April 24, 1989 Houston Clay Gigi Fernández Katrina Adams
Zina Garrison		 3–6, 4–6
Win 17. May 22, 1989 Geneva Clay Katrina Adams Larisa Savchenko
Natasha Zvereva		 2–6, 6–3, 6–4
Win 18. July 17, 1989 Newport Grass Gigi Fernández Elizabeth Smylie
Wendy Turnbull		 6–3, 6–7(5), 7–5
Win 19. October 23, 1989 Brighton Carpet (i) Katrina Adams Hana Mandlíková
Jana Novotná		 4–6, 7–6(7), 6–4
Win 20. October 30, 1989 Indianapolis Hard (i) Katrina Adams Claudia Porwik
Larisa Savchenko		 6–4, 6–4
Loss 18. February 11, 1991 Denver Carpet (i) Patty Fendick Lise Gregory
Gretchen Rush		 4–6, 4–6
Win 21. May 20, 1991 Strasbourg Clay Stephanie Rehe Manon Bollegraf
Mercedes Paz		 6–7(2), 6–4, 6–4
Loss 19. July 22, 1991 Westchester Hard Katrina Adams Rosalyn Fairbank
Lise Gregory		 5–7, 4–6
Win 22. September 30, 1991 Milan Carpet (i) Sandy Collins Sabine Appelmans
Raffaella Reggi		 7–6(0), 6–3
Loss 20. October 7, 1991 Zürich Carpet (i) Zina Garrison Jana Novotná
Andrea Strnadová		 4–6, 3–6
Loss 21. October 21, 1991 Brighton Carpet (i) Zina Garrison Pam Shriver
Natasha Zvereva		 1–6, 2–6
Win 23. February 17, 1992 Oklahoma City Hard (i) Nicole Provis Katrina Adams
Manon Bollegraf		 3–6, 6–4, 7–6(6)
Loss 22. May 18, 1992 Strasbourg Clay Mercedes Paz Patty Fendick
Andrea Strnadová		 3–6, 4–6
Win 24. June 8, 1992 Birmingham Grass Rennae Stubbs Sandy Collins
Elna Reinach		 5–7, 6–3, 8–6
Win 25. August 17, 1992 Montreal Hard Rennae Stubbs Gigi Fernández
Natasha Zvereva		 3–6, 7–5, 7–5
Runner-up 23. January 11, 1993 Sydney Hard Rennae Stubbs Pam Shriver
Elizabeth Smylie		 6–7(4), 2–6
Runner-up 24. February 1, 1993 Tokyo Carpet (i) Rennae Stubbs Martina Navratilova
Helena Suková		 4–6, 3–6
Win 26. June 7, 1993 Birmingham Grass Martina Navratilova Pam Shriver
Elizabeth Smylie		 6–3, 6–4
Win 27. March 28, 1994 Hilton Head Clay Arantxa Sánchez Vicario Gigi Fernández
Natasha Zvereva		 6–4, 4–1 ret.
Win 28. May 16, 1994 Strasbourg Clay Rennae Stubbs Patricia Tarabini
Caroline Vis		 6–3, 3–6, 6–2
Runner-up 25. March 6, 1995 Delray Beach Hard Larisa Neiland Mary Joe Fernández
Jana Novotná		 4–6, 0–6
Runner-up 26. October 16, 1995 Brighton Carpet (i) Helena Suková Meredith McGrath
Larisa Neiland		 5–7, 1–6
Win 29. October 30, 1995 Oakland Carpet (i) Helena Suková Katrina Adams
Zina Garrison		 3–6, 6–4, 6–3
Win 30. November 6, 1995 Philadelphia Carpet (i) Helena Suková Meredith McGrath
Larisa Neiland		 4–6, 6–3, 6–4
Runner-up 27. January 8, 1996 Sydney Hard Helena Suková Lindsay Davenport
Mary Joe Fernández		 3–6, 3–6
Runner-up 28. February 19, 1996 Essen Carpet (i) Helena Suková Meredith McGrath
Larisa Neiland		 6–3, 3–6, 2–6
Runner-up 29. June 10, 1996 Birmingham Grass Nathalie Tauziat Elizabeth Smylie
Linda Wild		 3–6, 6–3, 1–6
Runner-up 30. November 11, 1996 Philadelphia Carpet (i) Nicole Arendt Lisa Raymond
Rennae Stubbs		 4–6, 6–3, 3–6
Win 31. October 26, 1998 Quebec City Hard (i) Kimberly Po Chanda Rubin
Sandrine Testud		 6–7(3), 7–5, 6–4
Win 32. February 19, 2001 Oklahoma City Hard (i) Amanda Coetzer Janet Lee
Wynne Prakusya		 6–3, 2–6, 6–0
Runner-up 31. May 21, 2001 Strasbourg Clay Amanda Coetzer Silvia Farina Elia
Iroda Tulyaganova		 1–6, 6–7(0)
Win 33. September 10, 2001 Bahia Hard Amanda Coetzer Nicole Arendt
Patricia Tarabini		 6–7(8), 6–2, 6–4

Grand Slam tournament timeline
Key
W  F  SF QF #R RR Q# A NH
(W) Won; (F) finalist; (SF) semifinalist; (QF) quarterfinalist; (#R) rounds 4, 3, 2, 1; (RR) round-robin stage; (Q#) qualification round; (A) absent; (NH) not held. SR=strike rate (events won/competed)

Singles
Tournament1981198219831984198519861987198819891990199119921993199419951996199719981999Career SR
Australian Open A A 2R LQ 1R NH QF 4R 1R 1R 3R 1R 2R A 3R 2R 1R A A 0 / 12
French Open A A A 2R 2R 1R 1R 3R 2R 1R 1R 3R 2R 3R 1R A 1R 1R A 0 / 14
Wimbledon A A A 1R 1R QF 2R 3R 4R 3R 3R 3R 2R SF 1R 3R 1R 3R A 0 / 15
US Open LQ A LQ 4R 1R 1R SF 3R 1R 2R 2R 3R 2R 1R 2R 1R 1R 2R A 0 / 15
SR 0 / 0 0 / 0 0 / 1 0 / 3 0 / 4 0 / 3 0 / 4 0 / 4 0 / 4 0 / 4 0 / 4 0 / 4 0 / 4 0 / 3 0 / 4 0 / 3 0 / 4 0 / 3 0 / 0 0 / 56
Year-end ranking NR NR 148 97 93 14 11 13 37 52 19 15 25 17 34 83 305 91 869

Doubles
Tournament19831984198519861987198819891990199119921993199419951996199719981999200020012002Career SR
Australian Open 2R 1R 1R NH F A QF 3R 3R 3R QF A QF 1R 3R A A A A QF 0 / 13
French Open A 1R 2R 1R QF 3R 2R 3R 1R QF QF 3R 1R A 2R 2R A 1R 1R 2R 0 / 17
Wimbledon A 2R 1R 1R SF QF QF 3R QF QF QF 3R QF 2R 3R 3R 1R 2R 3R 2R 0 / 19
US Open A 2R 3R 3R QF QF 1R QF 3R QF QF A SF SF 1R 1R 2R 3R 2R 1R 0 / 18
SR 0 / 1 0 / 4 0 / 4 0 / 3 0 / 4 0 / 3 0 / 4 0 / 4 0 / 4 0 / 4 0 / 4 0 / 2 0 / 4 0 / 3 0 / 4 0 / 3 0 / 2 0 / 3 0 / 3 0 / 4 0 / 67
Year-end ranking 72 33 28 4 10 16 22 19 14 12 15 15 13 37 50 95 58 29 89

Mixed doubles
Tournament19861987198819891990199119921993199419951996199719981999200020012002Career SR
Australian Open NH QF 1R A 1R 1R 1R A A QF 2R SF A A A A 1R 0 / 9
French Open 1R F W 1R 1R 1R F 2R 3R 2R A 2R QF A A A A 1 / 12
Wimbledon A 1R QF SF 3R 1R SF 2R F 3R 3R 3R 2R 1R 2R 2R A 0 / 15
US Open 1R 2R 1R A 1R 1R QF 1R A 1R 1R 1R A A 1R A A 0 / 11
SR 0 / 2 0 / 4 1 / 4 0 / 2 0 / 4 0 / 4 0 / 4 0 / 3 0 / 2 0 / 4 0 / 3 0 / 4 0 / 2 0 / 1 0 / 2 0 / 1 0 / 1 1 / 47

References
  1. Johnson, Roy (11 September 1987). "Winning Started at Home for McNeil". New York Times. Retrieved 9 July 2020.
  2. "Lori McNeil – National Coach, Women's Tennis". USTA website. Retrieved 9 July 2020.
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