Lori McNeil
American tennis player
This article is about the American tennis player and coach. For the American physicist, see
Laurie McNeil .
Lori McNeil Country (sports) United States Residence Houston , TexasBorn (1963-12-18 ) December 18, 1963 (age 60) San Diego , CaliforniaHeight 1.70 m (5 ft 7 in) Turned pro 1983 Retired 2002 Plays Right-handed (one handed-backhand) Prize money $3,441,604 Career record 436–309 Career titles 10 Highest ranking No. 9 (July 4, 1988) Australian Open QF (1987 ) French Open 3R (1988 , 1992 , 1994 ) Wimbledon SF (1994 ) US Open SF (1987 ) Career record 605–335 Career titles 33 Highest ranking No. 4 (November 9, 1987) Australian Open F (1987 ) French Open QF (1987 , 1992, 1993) Wimbledon SF (1987) US Open SF (1995, 1996) Career titles 1 Australian Open SF (1997 ) French Open W (1988 )Wimbledon F (1994 ) US Open QF (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 .[ 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 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 3-6, 6-2, 10-8. 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 4-6, 6-2, 6-4.
Despite never winning a women's doubles Grand Slam title, she reached the quarterfinal stage or better on 22 occasions at major 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 tournament finals
Doubles: 1 (runner-up)
Mixed doubles: 4 (1 title, 3 runner-ups)
WTA Tour 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)
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 (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
Kyle 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
Memphis
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
Memphis
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
Memphis
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
Memphis
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
Loss
23.
January 11, 1993
Sydney
Hard
Rennae Stubbs
Pam Shriver Elizabeth Smylie
6–7(4) , 2–6
Loss
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
Loss
25.
March 6, 1995
Delray Beach
Hard
Larisa Neiland
Mary Joe Fernández Jana Novotná
4–6, 0–6
Loss
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
Loss
27.
January 8, 1996
Sydney
Hard
Helena Suková
Lindsay Davenport Mary Joe Fernández
3–6, 3–6
Loss
28.
February 19, 1996
Essen
Carpet (i)
Helena Suková
Meredith McGrath Larisa Neiland
6–3, 3–6, 2–6
Loss
29.
June 10, 1996
Birmingham
Grass
Nathalie Tauziat
Elizabeth Smylie Linda Wild
3–6, 6–3, 1–6
Loss
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
Memphis
Hard (i)
Amanda Coetzer
Janet Lee Wynne Prakusya
6–3, 2–6, 6–0
Loss
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
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
Doubles
Mixed doubles
References
External links