Age: 61
Lori McNeil
Age: 61
Lori McNeil (born December 18, 1963, in San Diego, California) is an African American tennis coach and former professional tennis player from the United States. McNeil was a childhood friend of fellow African-American pro Zina Garrison. Lori's father Charlie McNeil played professional football with the San Diego Chargers in the 1960s.
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. During that time she won one Grand Slam mixed doubles title at the French Open in 1988 (partnering Jorge Lozano). She won a total of 10 singles and 33 doubles titles during her career. Her career-high world rankings were World No. 9 in singles (in 1988), and World No. 4 in doubles (in 1987).
McNeil is perhaps best remembered for her results against Steffi Graf. In 1992, McNeil defeated Graf 7-5, 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 (7-5) in the first round at Wimbledon, marking the first time in Grand Slam history that a defending-champion suffered a first round loss.
That year, McNeil went on to reach the semi-finals 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 semi-finals 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.
Grand Slam finals
Women's doubles: 1 (0 titles, 1 runner-up)
Outcome | Year | Championship | Surface | Partner | Opponents | Score |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Runner-up | 1987 | Australian Open | Grass | Zina Garrison | Martina Navratilova Pam Shriver |
6-1, 6-0 |
Mixed doubles: 4 (1 title, 3 runners-up)
Outcome | Year | Championship | Surface | Partner | Opponents | Score |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Runner-up | 1987 | French Open | Clay | Sherwood Stewart | Pam Shriver Emilio Sánchez |
6-3, 7-6(7-4) |
Winner | 1988 | French Open | Clay | Jorge Lozano | Brenda Schultz-McCarthy Michiel Schapers |
7-5, 6-2 |
Runner-up | 1992 | French Open | Clay | Bryan Shelton | Arantxa Sánchez Vicario Mark Woodforde |
6-2, 6-3 |
Runner-up | 1994 | Wimbledon | Grass | T. J. Middleton | Helena Suková Todd Woodbridge |
3-6, 7-5, 6-3 |
WTA Tour Finals
Singles: 21 (10-11)
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Outcome | No. | Date | Tournament | Surface | Opponent | Score |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Runner-up | 1. | February 24, 1986 | Oklahoma City | Carpet (I) | Marcella Mesker | 4-6, 6-4, 3-6 |
Runner-up | 2. | July 14, 1986 | Newport | Grass | Pam Shriver | 4-6, 2-6 |
Winner | 1. | September 15, 1986 | Tampa | Hard | Zina Garrison | 2-6, 7-5, 6-2 |
Winner | 2. | September 22, 1986 | Tulsa | Hard | Beth Herr | 6-0, 6-1 |
Runner-up | 3. | February 9, 1987 | Oklahoma City | Hard | Elizabeth Smylie | 6-4, 3-6, 5-7 |
Runner-up | 4. | March 29, 1987 | Piscataway | Carpet (I) | Helena Suková | 0-6, 3-6 |
Runner-up | 5. | September 28, 1987 | New Orleans | Carpet (I) | Chris Evert | 3-6, 5-7 |
Winner | 3. | February 22, 1988 | Oklahoma City | Carpet (I) | Brenda Schultz | 6-3, 6-2 |
Runner-up | 6. | May 16, 1988 | Geneva | Clay | Barbara Paulus | 4-6, 7-5, 1-6 |
Winner | 4. | July 11, 1988 | Newport | Grass | Barbara Potter | 6-4, 4-6, 6-3 |
Runner-up | 7. | January 30, 1989 | Tokyo | Carpet (I) | Martina Navratilova | 7-6(7-3), 3-6, 6-7(5-7) |
Winner | 5. | August 14, 1989 | Albuquerque | Hard | Elna Reinach | 6-1, 6-3 |
Winner | 6. | February 11, 1991 | Denver | Carpet (I) | Manon Bollegraf | 6-3, 6-4 |
Winner | 7. | April 8, 1991 | Tokyo | Hard | Sabine Appelmans | 2-6, 6-2, 6-1 |
Runner-up | 8. | July 22, 1991 | Westchester | Hard | Isabelle Demongeot | 4-6, 4-6 |
Runner-up | 9. | February 17, 1992 | Oklahoma City | Hard (I) | Zina Garrison | 5-7, 6-3, 5-7(10) |
Winner | 8. | June 15, 1992 | Eastbourne | Grass | Linda Wild | 6-4, 6-4 |
Winner | 9. | June 7, 1993 | Birmingham | Grass | Zina Garrison | 6-4, 2-6, 6-3 |
Winner | 10. | June 6, 1994 | Birmingham | Grass | Zina Garrison | 6-2, 6-2 |
Runner-up | 10. | June 12, 1995 | Birmingham | Grass | Zina Garrison | 3-6, 3-6 |
Runner-up | 11. | November 6, 1995 | Philadelphia | Carpet (I) | Steffi Graf | 1-6, 6-4, 3-6 |
Doubles: 64 (33-31)
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Outcome | No. | Date | Tournament | Surface | Partner | Opponents | Score |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Winner | 1. | September 26, 1983 | Bakersfield | Hard | Kylie Copeland | Ann Henricksson Patricia Medrado |
6-4, 6-3 |
Runner-up | 1. | April 1, 1985 | Seabrook Island | Clay | Elise Burgin | Svetlana Parkhomenko Larisa Savchenko |
1-6, 3-6 |
Winner | 2. | October 21, 1985 | Brighton | Carpet (I) | Catherine Suire | Barbara Potter Helena Suková |
4-6, 7-6(3), 6-4 |
Runner-up | 2. | February 24, 1986 | Oklahoma City | Carpet (I) | Catherine Suire | Marcella Mesker Pascale Paradis |
6-2, 6-7(1), 1-6 |
Runner-up | 3. | October 6, 1986 | Zürich | Carpet (I) | Alycia Moulton | Steffi Graf Gabriela Sabatini |
6-1, 4-6, 4-6 |
Winner | 3. | October 27, 1986 | Indianapolis | Hard (I) | Zina Garrison | Candy Reynolds Anne Smith |
4-5 ret. |
Winner | 4. | November 10, 1986 | San Juan | Hard | Mercedes Paz | Gigi Fernández Robin White |
6-2, 3-6, 6-4 |
Winner | 5. | December 1, 1986 | Buenos Aires | Clay | Mercedes Paz | Manon Bollegraf Nicole Jagerman |
6-1, 2-6, 6-1 |
Runner-up | 4. | January 12, 1987 | Australian Open | Grass | Zina Garrison | Martina Navratilova Pam Shriver |
1-6, 0-6 |
Runner-up | 5. | February 9, 1987 | Oklahoma City | Hard | Kim Sands | Svetlana Parkhomenko Larisa Savchenko |
4-6, 4-6 |
Runner-up | 6. | March 23, 1987 | Washington, D.C. | Carpet (I) | Zina Garrison | Elise Burgin Pam Shriver |
1-6, 6-3, 4-6 |
Winner | 6. | March 29, 1987 | Piscataway | Carpet (I) | Gigi Fernández | Betsy Nagelsen Elizabeth Smylie |
6-1, 6-4 |
Runner-up | 7. | April 6, 1987 | Hilton Head Island | Clay | Zina Garrison | Mercedes Paz Eva Pfaff |
6-7(6), 5-7 |
Runner-up | 8. | April 20, 1987 | Houston | Clay | Zina Garrison | Kathy Jordan Martina Navratilova |
2-6, 4-6 |
Winner | 7. | July 13, 1987 | Newport | Grass | Gigi Fernández | Anne Hobbs Kathy Jordan |
7-6(5), 7-5 |
Runner-up | 9. | August 10, 1987 | Los Angeles | Hard | Zina Garrison | Martina Navratilova Pam Shriver |
3-6, 4-6 |
Winner | 8. | August 17, 1987 | Toronto | Hard | Zina Garrison | Claudia Kohde-Kilsch Helena Suková |
6-1, 6-2 |
Winner | 9. | August 24, 1987 | Mahwah | Hard | Gigi Fernández | Anne Hobbs Elizabeth Smylie |
6-3, 6-2 |
Winner | 10. | September 28, 1987 | New Orleans | Carpet (I) | Zina Garrison | Peanut Louie Harper Heather Ludloff |
6-3, 6-4 |
Runner-up | 10. | October 12, 1987 | Filderstadt | Carpet (I) | Zina Garrison | Martina Navratilova Pam Shriver |
1-6, 2-6 |
Runner-up | 11. | November 9, 1987 | Chicago | Carpet (I) | Zina Garrison | Claudia Kohde-Kilsch Helena Suková |
4-6, 3-6 |
Winner | 11. | February 8, 1988 | Dallas | Carpet (I) | Eva Pfaff | Gigi Fernández Zina Garrison |
2-6, 6-4, 7-5 |
Winner | 12. | February 29, 1988 | San Antonio | Hard | Helena Suková | Rosalyn Fairbank Gretchen Magers |
6-3, 6-7(5), 6-2 |
Winner | 13. | April 4, 1988 | Hilton Head Island | Clay | Martina Navratilova | Claudia Kohde-Kilsch Gabriela Sabatini |
6-2, 2-6, 6-3 |
Runner-up | 12. | April 18, 1988 | Houston | Clay | Martina Navratilova | Katrina Adams Zina Garrison |
7-6(4), 2-6, 4-6 |
Runner-up | 13. | July 11, 1988 | Newport | Grass | Gigi Fernández | Rosalyn Fairbank Barbara Potter |
4-6, 3-6 |
Runner-up | 14. | October 3, 1988 | New Orleans | Hard | Betsy Nagelsen | Beth Herr Candy Reynolds |
4-6, 4-6 |
Winner | 14. | October 24, 1988 | Brighton | Carpet (I) | Betsy Nagelsen | Isabelle Demongeot Nathalie Tauziat |
7-6(5), 2-6, 7-6(4) |
Winner | 15. | November 7, 1988 | Chicago | Carpet (I) | Betsy Nagelsen | Larisa Savchenko Natasha Zvereva |
6-4, 3-6, 6-4 |
Runner-up | 15. | November 28, 1988 | Adelaide | Hard | Jana Novotná | Sylvia Hanika Claudia Kohde-Kilsch |
5-7, 7-6(4), 4-6 |
Winner | 16. | February 27, 1989 | Oklahoma City | Hard (I) | Betsy Nagelsen | Elise Burgin Elizabeth Smylie |
w/o |
Runner-up | 16. | March 20, 1989 | Key Biscayne | Hard | Gigi Fernández | Jana Novotná Helena Suková |
6-7(5), 4-6 |
Runner-up | 17. | April 24, 1989 | Houston | Clay | Gigi Fernández | Katrina Adams Zina Garrison |
3-6, 4-6 |
Winner | 17. | May 22, 1989 | Geneva | Clay | Katrina Adams | Larisa Savchenko Natasha Zvereva |
2-6, 6-3, 6-4 |
Winner | 18. | July 17, 1989 | Newport | Grass | Gigi Fernández | Elizabeth Smylie Wendy Turnbull |
6-3, 6-7(5), 7-5 |
Winner | 19. | October 23, 1989 | Brighton | Carpet (I) | Katrina Adams | Hana Mandlíková Jana Novotná |
4-6, 7-6(7), 6-4 |
Winner | 20. | October 30, 1989 | Indianapolis | Hard (I) | Katrina Adams | Claudia Porwik Larisa Savchenko |
6-4, 6-4 |
Runner-up | 18. | February 11, 1991 | Denver | Carpet (I) | Patty Fendick | Lise Gregory Gretchen Rush |
4-6, 4-6 |
Winner | 21. | May 20, 1991 | Strasbourg | Clay | Stephanie Rehe | Manon Bollegraf Mercedes Paz |
6-7(2), 6-4, 6-4 |
Runner-up | 19. | July 22, 1991 | Westchester | Hard | Katrina Adams | Rosalyn Fairbank Lise Gregory |
5-7, 4-6 |
Winner | 22. | September 30, 1991 | Milan | Carpet (I) | Sandy Collins | Sabine Appelmans Raffaella Reggi |
7-6(0), 6-3 |
Runner-up | 20. | October 7, 1991 | Zürich | Carpet (I) | Zina Garrison | Jana Novotná Andrea Strnadová |
4-6, 3-6 |
Runner-up | 21. | October 21, 1991 | Brighton | Carpet (I) | Zina Garrison | Pam Shriver Natasha Zvereva |
1-6, 2-6 |
Winner | 23. | February 17, 1992 | Oklahoma City | Hard (I) | Nicole Provis | Katrina Adams Manon Bollegraf |
3-6, 6-4, 7-6(6) |
Runner-up | 22. | May 18, 1992 | Strasbourg | Clay | Mercedes Paz | Patty Fendick Andrea Strnadová |
3-6, 4-6 |
Winner | 24. | June 8, 1992 | Birmingham | Grass | Rennae Stubbs | Sandy Collins Elna Reinach |
5-7, 6-3, 8-6 |
Winner | 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 |
Winner | 26. | June 7, 1993 | Birmingham | Grass | Martina Navratilova | Pam Shriver Elizabeth Smylie |
6-3, 6-4 |
Winner | 27. | March 28, 1994 | Hilton Head Island | Clay | Arantxa Sánchez Vicario | Gigi Fernández Natasha Zvereva |
6-4, 4-1 ret. |
Winner | 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 |
Winner | 29. | October 30, 1995 | Oakland | Carpet (I) | Helena Suková | Katrina Adams Zina Garrison |
3-6, 6-4, 6-3 |
Winner | 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 |
Winner | 31. | October 26, 1998 | Quebec City | Hard (I) | Kimberly Po | Chanda Rubin Sandrine Testud |
6-7(3), 7-5, 6-4 |
Winner | 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) |
Winner | 33. | September 10, 2001 | Bahia | Hard | Amanda Coetzer | Nicole Arendt Patricia Tarabini |
6-7(8), 6-2, 6-4 |
Grand Slam tournament timeline
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 |
- NH = tournament not held
- A = did not participate in the tournament
- SR = the ratio of the number of Grand Slam tournaments won to the number of those tournaments played