Lori McNeil

Lori McNeil
Country (sports) United States
ResidenceHouston, Texas
Born (1963-12-18) December 18, 1963 (age 60)
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 (58.5%)
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 (64.4%)
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)

Lori McNeil (born December 18, 1963) is an American tennis coach and former top 10 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.

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.

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 ten singles titles 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 was awarded the WTA Most Improved Player of the Year.

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, 2–6, 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.

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

Grand Slam tournament finals

Doubles: 1 (runner-up)

Result Year Tournament Surface Partner Opponents Score
Loss 1987 Australian Open Grass United States Zina Garrison United States Martina Navratilova
United States Pam Shriver
6–1, 6–0

Mixed doubles: 4 (1 title, 3 runner-ups)

Result Year Tournament Surface Partner Opponents Score
Loss 1987 French Open Clay United States Sherwood Stewart United States Pam Shriver
Spain Emilio Sánchez
6–3, 7–6(7–4)
Win 1988 French Open Clay Mexico Jorge Lozano Netherlands Brenda Schultz
Netherlands Michiel Schapers
7–5, 6–2
Loss 1992 French Open Clay United States Bryan Shelton Spain Arantxa Sánchez Vicario
Australia Mark Woodforde
6–2, 6–3
Loss 1994 Wimbledon Grass United States T. J. Middleton Czech Republic Helena Suková
Australia Todd Woodbridge
3–6, 7–5, 6–3

WTA career finals

Singles: 21 (10 titles, 11 runner-ups)

Legend
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) Netherlands Marcella Mesker 4–6, 6–4, 3–6
Loss 0–2 Jul 1986 Newport Grass United States Pam Shriver 4–6, 2–6
Win 1–2 Sep 1986 Tampa Hard United States Zina Garrison 2–6, 7–5, 6–2
Win 2–2 Sep 1986 Tulsa Hard United States Beth Herr 6–0, 6–1
Loss 2–3 Feb 1987 Oklahoma City Hard Australia Elizabeth Smylie 6–4, 3–6, 5–7
Loss 2–4 Mar 1987 Piscataway Carpet (i) Czech Republic Helena Suková 0–6, 3–6
Loss 2–5 Sep 1987 New Orleans Carpet (i) United States Chris Evert 3–6, 5–7
Win 3–5 Feb 1988 Oklahoma City Carpet (i) Netherlands Brenda Schultz 6–3, 6–2
Loss 3–6 May 1988 Geneva Clay Austria Barbara Paulus 4–6, 7–5, 1–6
Win 4–6 Jul 1988 Newport Grass United States Barbara Potter 6–4, 4–6, 6–3
Loss 4–7 Jan 1989 Tokyo Carpet (i) United States Martina Navratilova 7–6(7–3), 3–6, 6–7(5–7)
Win 5–7 Aug 1989 Albuquerque Hard South Africa Elna Reinach 6–1, 6–3
Win 6–7 Feb 1991 Denver Carpet (i) Netherlands Manon Bollegraf 6–3, 6–4
Win 7–7 Apr 1991 Tokyo Hard Belgium Sabine Appelmans 2–6, 6–2, 6–1
Loss 7–8 Jul 1991 Westchester Hard France Isabelle Demongeot 4–6, 4–6
Loss 7–9 Feb 1992 Oklahoma City Hard (i) United States Zina Garrison 5–7, 6–3, 5–7(10)
Win 8–9 Jun 1992 Eastbourne Grass United States Linda Wild 6–4, 6–4
Win 9–9 Jun 1993 Birmingham Grass United States Zina Garrison 6–4, 2–6, 6–3
Win 10–9 Jun 1994 Birmingham Grass United States Zina Garrison 6–2, 6–2
Loss 10–10 Jun 1995 Birmingham Grass United States Zina Garrison 3–6, 3–6
Loss 10–11 Nov 1995 Philadelphia Carpet (i) Germany Steffi Graf 1–6, 6–4, 3–6

Doubles: 64 (33 titles, 31 runner-ups)

Legend
Grand Slam (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 United States Kyle Copeland United States Ann Henricksson
Brazil Patricia Medrado
6–4, 6–3
Loss 1. April 1, 1985 Seabrook Island Clay United States Elise Burgin Soviet Union Svetlana Parkhomenko
Soviet Union Larisa Savchenko
1–6, 3–6
Win 2. October 21, 1985 Brighton Carpet (i) France Catherine Suire United States Barbara Potter
Czechoslovakia Helena Suková
4–6, 7–6(3), 6–4
Loss 2. February 24, 1986 Memphis Carpet (i) France Catherine Suire Netherlands Marcella Mesker
France Pascale Paradis
6–2, 6–7(1), 1–6
Loss 3. October 6, 1986 Zürich Carpet (i) United States Alycia Moulton West Germany Steffi Graf
Argentina Gabriela Sabatini
6–1, 4–6, 4–6
Win 3. October 27, 1986 Indianapolis Hard (i) United States Zina Garrison United States Candy Reynolds
United States Anne Smith
4–5 ret.
Win 4. November 10, 1986 San Juan Hard Argentina Mercedes Paz United States Gigi Fernández
United States Robin White
6–2, 3–6, 6–4
Win 5. December 1, 1986 Buenos Aires Clay Argentina Mercedes Paz Netherlands Manon Bollegraf
Netherlands Nicole Jagerman
6–1, 2–6, 6–1
Loss 4. January 12, 1987 Australian Open Grass United States Zina Garrison United States Martina Navratilova
United States Pam Shriver
1–6, 0–6
Loss 5. February 9, 1987 Memphis Hard United States Kim Sands Soviet Union Svetlana Parkhomenko
Soviet Union Larisa Savchenko
4–6, 4–6
Loss 6. March 23, 1987 Washington D.C. Carpet (i) United States Zina Garrison United States Elise Burgin
United States Pam Shriver
1–6, 6–3, 4–6
Win 6. March 29, 1987 Piscataway Carpet (i) United States Gigi Fernández United States Betsy Nagelsen
Australia Elizabeth Smylie
6–1, 6–4
Loss 7. April 6, 1987 Hilton Head Clay United States Zina Garrison Argentina Mercedes Paz
West Germany Eva Pfaff
6–7(6), 5–7
Loss 8. April 20, 1987 Houston Clay United States Zina Garrison United States Kathy Jordan
United States Martina Navratilova
2–6, 4–6
Win 7. July 13, 1987 Newport Grass United States Gigi Fernández United Kingdom Anne Hobbs
United States Kathy Jordan
7–6(5), 7–5
Loss 9. August 10, 1987 Los Angeles Hard United States Zina Garrison United States Martina Navratilova
United States Pam Shriver
3–6, 4–6
Win 8. August 17, 1987 Toronto Hard United States Zina Garrison West Germany Claudia Kohde-Kilsch
Czechoslovakia Helena Suková
6–1, 6–2
Win 9. August 24, 1987 Mahwah Hard United States Gigi Fernández United Kingdom Anne Hobbs
Australia Elizabeth Smylie
6–3, 6–2
Win 10. September 28, 1987 New Orleans Carpet (i) United States Zina Garrison United States Peanut Louie Harper
United States Heather Ludloff
6–3, 6–4
Loss 10. October 12, 1987 Filderstadt Carpet (i) United States Zina Garrison United States Martina Navratilova
United States Pam Shriver
1–6, 2–6
Loss 11. November 9, 1987 Chicago Carpet (i) United States Zina Garrison West Germany Claudia Kohde-Kilsch
Czechoslovakia Helena Suková
4–6, 3–6
Win 11. February 8, 1988 Dallas Carpet (i) West Germany Eva Pfaff United States Gigi Fernández
United States Zina Garrison
2–6, 6–4, 7–5
Win 12. February 29, 1988 San Antonio Hard Czechoslovakia Helena Suková South Africa Rosalyn Fairbank
United States Gretchen Magers
6–3, 6–7(5), 6–2
Win 13. April 4, 1988 Hilton Head Clay United States Martina Navratilova West Germany Claudia Kohde-Kilsch
Argentina Gabriela Sabatini
6–2, 2–6, 6–3
Loss 12. April 18, 1988 Houston Clay United States Martina Navratilova United States Katrina Adams
United States Zina Garrison
7–6(4), 2–6, 4–6
Loss 13. July 11, 1988 Newport Grass United States Gigi Fernández South Africa Rosalyn Fairbank
United States Barbara Potter
4–6, 3–6
Loss 14. October 3, 1988 New Orleans Hard United States Betsy Nagelsen United States Beth Herr
United States Candy Reynolds
4–6, 4–6
Win 14. October 24, 1988 Brighton Carpet (i) United States Betsy Nagelsen France Isabelle Demongeot
France Nathalie Tauziat
7–6(5), 2–6, 7–6(4)
Win 15. November 7, 1988 Chicago Carpet (i) United States Betsy Nagelsen Soviet Union Larisa Savchenko
Soviet Union Natasha Zvereva
6–4, 3–6, 6–4
Loss 15. November 28, 1988 Adelaide Hard Czechoslovakia Jana Novotná West Germany Sylvia Hanika
West Germany Claudia Kohde-Kilsch
5–7, 7–6(4), 4–6
Win 16. February 27, 1989 Memphis Hard (i) United States Betsy Nagelsen United States Elise Burgin
Australia Elizabeth Smylie
w/o
Loss 16. March 20, 1989 Key Biscayne Hard United States Gigi Fernández Czechoslovakia Jana Novotná
Czechoslovakia Helena Suková
6–7(5), 4–6
Loss 17. April 24, 1989 Houston Clay United States Gigi Fernández United States Katrina Adams
United States Zina Garrison
3–6, 4–6
Win 17. May 22, 1989 Geneva Clay United States Katrina Adams Soviet Union Larisa Savchenko
Soviet Union Natasha Zvereva
2–6, 6–3, 6–4
Win 18. July 17, 1989 Newport Grass United States Gigi Fernández Australia Elizabeth Smylie
Australia Wendy Turnbull
6–3, 6–7(5), 7–5
Win 19. October 23, 1989 Brighton Carpet (i) United States Katrina Adams Australia Hana Mandlíková
Czechoslovakia Jana Novotná
4–6, 7–6(7), 6–4
Win 20. October 30, 1989 Indianapolis Hard (i) United States Katrina Adams West Germany Claudia Porwik
Soviet Union Larisa Savchenko
6–4, 6–4
Loss 18. February 11, 1991 Denver Carpet (i) United States Patty Fendick South Africa Lise Gregory
United States Gretchen Rush
4–6, 4–6
Win 21. May 20, 1991 Strasbourg Clay United States Stephanie Rehe Netherlands Manon Bollegraf
Argentina Mercedes Paz
6–7(2), 6–4, 6–4
Loss 19. July 22, 1991 Westchester Hard United States Katrina Adams South Africa Rosalyn Fairbank
South Africa Lise Gregory
5–7, 4–6
Win 22. September 30, 1991 Milan Carpet (i) United States Sandy Collins Belgium Sabine Appelmans
Italy Raffaella Reggi
7–6(0), 6–3
Loss 20. October 7, 1991 Zürich Carpet (i) United States Zina Garrison Czechoslovakia Jana Novotná
Czechoslovakia Andrea Strnadová
4–6, 3–6
Loss 21. October 21, 1991 Brighton Carpet (i) United States Zina Garrison United States Pam Shriver
Soviet Union Natasha Zvereva
1–6, 2–6
Win 23. February 17, 1992 Memphis Hard (i) Australia Nicole Provis United States Katrina Adams
Netherlands Manon Bollegraf
3–6, 6–4, 7–6(6)
Loss 22. May 18, 1992 Strasbourg Clay Argentina Mercedes Paz United States Patty Fendick
Czechoslovakia Andrea Strnadová
3–6, 4–6
Win 24. June 8, 1992 Birmingham Grass Australia Rennae Stubbs United States Sandy Collins
South Africa Elna Reinach
5–7, 6–3, 8–6
Win 25. August 17, 1992 Montreal Hard Australia Rennae Stubbs United States Gigi Fernández
Belarus Natasha Zvereva
3–6, 7–5, 7–5
Loss 23. January 11, 1993 Sydney Hard Australia Rennae Stubbs United States Pam Shriver
Australia Elizabeth Smylie
6–7(4), 2–6
Loss 24. February 1, 1993 Tokyo Carpet (i) Australia Rennae Stubbs United States Martina Navratilova
Czech Republic Helena Suková
4–6, 3–6
Win 26. June 7, 1993 Birmingham Grass United States Martina Navratilova United States Pam Shriver
Australia Elizabeth Smylie
6–3, 6–4
Win 27. March 28, 1994 Hilton Head Clay Spain Arantxa Sánchez Vicario United States Gigi Fernández
Belarus Natasha Zvereva
6–4, 4–1 ret.
Win 28. May 16, 1994 Strasbourg Clay Australia Rennae Stubbs Argentina Patricia Tarabini
Netherlands Caroline Vis
6–3, 3–6, 6–2
Loss 25. March 6, 1995 Delray Beach Hard Latvia Larisa Neiland United States Mary Joe Fernández
Czech Republic Jana Novotná
4–6, 0–6
Loss 26. October 16, 1995 Brighton Carpet (i) Czech Republic Helena Suková United States Meredith McGrath
Latvia Larisa Neiland
5–7, 1–6
Win 29. October 30, 1995 Oakland Carpet (i) Czech Republic Helena Suková United States Katrina Adams
United States Zina Garrison
3–6, 6–4, 6–3
Win 30. November 6, 1995 Philadelphia Carpet (i) Czech Republic Helena Suková United States Meredith McGrath
Latvia Larisa Neiland
4–6, 6–3, 6–4
Loss 27. January 8, 1996 Sydney Hard Czech Republic Helena Suková United States Lindsay Davenport
United States Mary Joe Fernández
3–6, 3–6
Loss 28. February 19, 1996 Essen Carpet (i) Czech Republic Helena Suková United States Meredith McGrath
Latvia Larisa Neiland
6–3, 3–6, 2–6
Loss 29. June 10, 1996 Birmingham Grass France Nathalie Tauziat Australia Elizabeth Smylie
United States Linda Wild
3–6, 6–3, 1–6
Loss 30. November 11, 1996 Philadelphia Carpet (i) United States Nicole Arendt United States Lisa Raymond
Australia Rennae Stubbs
4–6, 6–3, 3–6
Win 31. October 26, 1998 Quebec City Hard (i) United States Kimberly Po United States Chanda Rubin
France Sandrine Testud
6–7(3), 7–5, 6–4
Win 32. February 19, 2001 Memphis Hard (i) South Africa Amanda Coetzer Chinese Taipei Janet Lee
Indonesia Wynne Prakusya
6–3, 2–6, 6–0
Loss 31. May 21, 2001 Strasbourg Clay South Africa Amanda Coetzer Italy Silvia Farina Elia
Uzbekistan Iroda Tulyaganova
1–6, 6–7(0)
Win 33. September 10, 2001 Bahia Hard South Africa Amanda Coetzer United States Nicole Arendt
Argentina Patricia Tarabini
6–7(8), 6–2, 6–4

Grand Slam performance timelines

Key
W  F  SF QF #R RR Q# DNQ A NH
(W) winner; (F) finalist; (SF) semifinalist; (QF) quarterfinalist; (#R) rounds 4, 3, 2, 1; (RR) round-robin stage; (Q#) qualification round; (DNQ) did not qualify; (A) absent; (NH) not held; (SR) strike rate (events won / competed); (W–L) win–loss record.

Singles

Tournament 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 Career 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

Tournament 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 Career 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

Tournament 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 Career 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

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