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 (7-5) in the first round at Wimbledon, the first time in Grand Slam history that a defending champion had suffered a first-round loss in women's singles.This is widely considered as one of the biggest upsets in tennis history.
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.
In 2006, McNeil was inducted into the ITA Hall of Fame.
Grand Slam finals Doubles: 1 (runner-up) ResultYearChampionshipSurfacePartnerOpponentsScoreLoss 1987 Australian Open Grass Zina Garrison Martina Navratilova Pam Shriver 6–1, 6–0
Mixed doubles: 4 (1 title, 3 runner-ups) ResultYearChampionshipSurfacePartnerOpponentsScoreLoss 1987 French Open Clay Sherwood Stewart Pam Shriver Emilio Sánchez 6–3, 7–6(7–4)Win 1988 French Open Clay Jorge Lozano Brenda Schultz Michiel Schapers 7–5, 6–2Loss 1992 French Open Clay Bryan Shelton Arantxa Sánchez Vicario Mark Woodforde 6–2, 6–3Loss 1994 Wimbledon Grass T. J. Middleton Helena Suková Todd Woodbridge 3–6, 7–5, 6–3
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) ResultW/LDateTournamentSurfaceOpponentScoreLoss 0–1 Feb 1986 Oklahoma City, US Carpet (i) Marcella Mesker 4–6, 6–4, 3–6Loss 0–2 Jul 1986 Newport, US Grass Pam Shriver 4–6, 2–6Win 1–2 Sep 1986 Tampa, US Hard Zina Garrison 2–6, 7–5, 6–2Win 2–2 Sep 1986 Tulsa, US Hard Beth Herr 6–0, 6–1Loss 2–3 Feb 1987 Oklahoma City, US Hard Elizabeth Smylie 6–4, 3–6, 5–7Loss 2–4 Mar 1987 Piscataway, US Carpet (i) Helena Suková 0–6, 3–6Loss 2–5 Sep 1987 New Orleans, US Carpet (i) Chris Evert 3–6, 5–7Win 3–5 Feb 1988 Oklahoma City, US Carpet (i) Brenda Schultz 6–3, 6–2Loss 3–6 May 1988 Geneva, Switzerland Clay Barbara Paulus 4–6, 7–5, 1–6Win 4–6 Jul 1988 Newport, US Grass Barbara Potter 6–4, 4–6, 6–3Loss 4–7 Jan 1989 Tokyo, Japan Carpet (i) Martina Navratilova 7–6(7–3), 3–6, 6–7(5–7)Win 5–7 Aug 1989 Albuquerque, US Hard Elna Reinach 6–1, 6–3Win 6–7 Feb 1991 Denver, US Carpet (i) Manon Bollegraf 6–3, 6–4Win 7–7 Apr 1991 Tokyo, Japan Hard Sabine Appelmans 2–6, 6–2, 6–1Loss 7–8 Jul 1991 Westchester, US Hard Isabelle Demongeot 4–6, 4–6Loss 7–9 Feb 1992 Oklahoma City, US Hard (i) Zina Garrison 5–7, 6–3, 5–7(10)Win 8–9 Jun 1992 Eastbourne, UK Grass Linda Wild 6–4, 6–4Win 9–9 Jun 1993 Birmingham, UK Grass Zina Garrison 6–4, 2–6, 6–3Win 10–9 Jun 1994 Birmingham, UK Grass Zina Garrison 6–2, 6–2Loss 10–10 Jun 1995 Birmingham, UK Grass Zina Garrison 3–6, 3–6Loss 10–11 Nov 1995 Philadelphia, US 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 OpponentsScoreWin 1. Sep 1983 Bakersfield Hard Kyle Copeland Ann Henricksson Patricia Medrado 6–4, 6–3Loss 1. Apr 1985 Seabrook Island Clay Elise Burgin Svetlana Parkhomenko Larisa Savchenko 1–6, 3–6Win 2. Oct 1985 Brighton Carpet (i) Catherine Suire Barbara Potter Helena Suková 4–6, 7–6(3), 6–4Loss 2. Feb 1986 Memphis Carpet (i) Catherine Suire Marcella Mesker Pascale Paradis 6–2, 6–7(1), 1–6Loss 3. Oct 1986 Zürich Carpet (i) Alycia Moulton Steffi Graf Gabriela Sabatini 6–1, 4–6, 4–6Win 3. Oct 1986 Indianapolis Hard (i) Zina Garrison Candy Reynolds Anne Smith 4–5 ret.Win 4. Nov 1986 San Juan Hard Mercedes Paz Gigi Fernández Robin White 6–2, 3–6, 6–4Win 5. Dec 1986 Buenos Aires Clay Mercedes Paz Manon Bollegraf Nicole Jagerman 6–1, 2–6, 6–1Loss 4. Jan 1987 Australian Open Grass Zina Garrison Martina Navratilova Pam Shriver 1–6, 0–6Loss 5. Feb 1987 Memphis Hard Kim Sands Svetlana Parkhomenko Larisa Savchenko 4–6, 4–6Loss 6. Mar 1987 Washington D.C. Carpet (i) Zina Garrison Elise Burgin Pam Shriver 1–6, 6–3, 4–6Win 6. Mar 1987 Piscataway Carpet (i) Gigi Fernández Betsy Nagelsen Elizabeth Smylie 6–1, 6–4Loss 7. Apr 1987 Hilton Head Clay Zina Garrison Mercedes Paz Eva Pfaff 6–7(6), 5–7Loss 8. Apr 1987 Houston Clay Zina Garrison Kathy Jordan Martina Navratilova 2–6, 4–6Win 7. Jul 1987 Newport Grass Gigi Fernández Anne Hobbs Kathy Jordan 7–6(5), 7–5Loss 9. Aug 1987 Los Angeles Hard Zina Garrison Martina Navratilova Pam Shriver 3–6, 4–6Win 8. Aug 1987 Toronto Hard Zina Garrison Claudia Kohde-Kilsch Helena Suková 6–1, 6–2Win 9. Aug 1987 Mahwah Hard Gigi Fernández Anne Hobbs Elizabeth Smylie 6–3, 6–2Win 10. Sep 1987 New Orleans Carpet (i) Zina Garrison Peanut Louie Harper Heather Ludloff 6–3, 6–4Loss 10. Oct 1987 Filderstadt Carpet (i) Zina Garrison Martina Navratilova Pam Shriver 1–6, 2–6Loss 11. Nov 1987 Chicago Carpet (i) Zina Garrison Claudia Kohde-Kilsch Helena Suková 4–6, 3–6Win 11. Feb 1988 Dallas Carpet (i) Eva Pfaff Gigi Fernández Zina Garrison 2–6, 6–4, 7–5Win 12. Feb 1988 San Antonio Hard Helena Suková Rosalyn Fairbank Gretchen Magers 6–3, 6–7(5), 6–2Win 13. Apr 1988 Hilton Head Clay Martina Navratilova Claudia Kohde-Kilsch Gabriela Sabatini 6–2, 2–6, 6–3Loss 12. Apr 1988 Houston Clay Martina Navratilova Katrina Adams Zina Garrison 7–6(4), 2–6, 4–6Loss 13. Jul 1988 Newport Grass Gigi Fernández Rosalyn Fairbank Barbara Potter 4–6, 3–6Loss 14. Oct 1988 New Orleans Hard Betsy Nagelsen Beth Herr Candy Reynolds 4–6, 4–6Win 14. Oct 1988 Brighton Carpet (i) Betsy Nagelsen Isabelle Demongeot Nathalie Tauziat 7–6(5), 2–6, 7–6(4)Win 15. Nov 1988 Chicago Carpet (i) Betsy Nagelsen Larisa Savchenko Natasha Zvereva 6–4, 3–6, 6–4Loss 15. Nov 1988 Adelaide Hard Jana Novotná Sylvia Hanika Claudia Kohde-Kilsch 5–7, 7–6(4), 4–6Win 16. Feb 1989 Memphis Hard (i) Betsy Nagelsen Elise Burgin Elizabeth Smylie w/oLoss 16. Mar 1989 Key Biscayne Hard Gigi Fernández Jana Novotná Helena Suková 6–7(5), 4–6Loss 17. Apr 1989 Houston Clay Gigi Fernández Katrina Adams Zina Garrison 3–6, 4–6Win 17. May 1989 Geneva Clay Katrina Adams Larisa Savchenko Natasha Zvereva 2–6, 6–3, 6–4Win 18. Jul 1989 Newport Grass Gigi Fernández Elizabeth Smylie Wendy Turnbull 6–3, 6–7(5), 7–5Win 19. Oct 1989 Brighton Carpet (i) Katrina Adams Hana Mandlíková Jana Novotná 4–6, 7–6(7), 6–4Win 20. Oct 1989 Indianapolis Hard (i) Katrina Adams Claudia Porwik Larisa Savchenko 6–4, 6–4Loss 18. Feb 1991 Denver Carpet (i) Patty Fendick Lise Gregory Gretchen Rush 4–6, 4–6Win 21. May 1991 Strasbourg Clay Stephanie Rehe Manon Bollegraf Mercedes Paz 6–7(2), 6–4, 6–4Loss 19. Jul 1991 Westchester Hard Katrina Adams Rosalyn Fairbank Lise Gregory 5–7, 4–6Win 22. Sep 1991 Milan Carpet (i) Sandy Collins Sabine Appelmans Raffaella Reggi 7–6(0), 6–3Loss 20. Oct 1991 Zürich Carpet (i) Zina Garrison Jana Novotná Andrea Strnadová 4–6, 3–6Loss 21. Oct 1991 Brighton Carpet (i) Zina Garrison Pam Shriver Natasha Zvereva 1–6, 2–6Win 23. Feb 1992 Memphis Hard (i) Nicole Provis Katrina Adams Manon Bollegraf 3–6, 6–4, 7–6(6)Loss 22. May 1992 Strasbourg Clay Mercedes Paz Patty Fendick Andrea Strnadová 3–6, 4–6Win 24. Jun 1992 Birmingham Grass Rennae Stubbs Sandy Collins Elna Reinach 5–7, 6–3, 8–6Win 25. Aug 1992 Montreal Hard Rennae Stubbs Gigi Fernández Natasha Zvereva 3–6, 7–5, 7–5 Loss 23. Jan 1993 Sydney Hard Rennae Stubbs Pam Shriver Elizabeth Smylie 6–7(4), 2–6 Loss 24. Feb 1993 Tokyo Carpet (i) Rennae Stubbs Martina Navratilova Helena Suková 4–6, 3–6Win 26. Jun 1993 Birmingham Grass Martina Navratilova Pam Shriver Elizabeth Smylie 6–3, 6–4Win 27. Mar 1994 Hilton Head Clay Arantxa Sánchez Vicario Gigi Fernández Natasha Zvereva 6–4, 4–1 ret.Win 28. May 1994 Strasbourg Clay Rennae Stubbs Patricia Tarabini Caroline Vis 6–3, 3–6, 6–2 Loss 25. Mar 1995 Delray Beach Hard Larisa Neiland Mary Joe Fernández Jana Novotná 4–6, 0–6 Loss 26. Oct 1995 Brighton Carpet (i) Helena Suková Meredith McGrath Larisa Neiland 5–7, 1–6Win 29. Oct 1995 Oakland Carpet (i) Helena Suková Katrina Adams Zina Garrison 3–6, 6–4, 6–3Win 30. Nov 1995 Philadelphia Carpet (i) Helena Suková Meredith McGrath Larisa Neiland 4–6, 6–3, 6–4 Loss 27. Jan 1996 Sydney Hard Helena Suková Lindsay Davenport Mary Joe Fernández 3–6, 3–6 Loss 28. Feb 1996 Essen Carpet (i) Helena Suková Meredith McGrath Larisa Neiland 6–3, 3–6, 2–6 Loss 29. Jun 1996 Birmingham Grass Nathalie Tauziat Elizabeth Smylie Linda Wild 3–6, 6–3, 1–6 Loss 30. Nov 1996 Philadelphia Carpet (i) Nicole Arendt Lisa Raymond Rennae Stubbs 4–6, 6–3, 3–6Win 31. Oct 1998 Quebec City Hard (i) Kimberly Po Chanda Rubin Sandrine Testud 6–7(3), 7–5, 6–4Win 32. Feb 2001 Memphis Hard (i) Amanda Coetzer Janet Lee Wynne Prakusya 6–3, 2–6, 6–0 Loss 31. May 2001 Strasbourg Clay Amanda Coetzer Silvia Farina Elia Iroda Tulyaganova 1–6, 6–7(0)Win 33. Sep 2001 Bahia Hard Amanda Coetzer Nicole Arendt Patricia Tarabini 6–7(8), 6–2, 6–4
Grand Slam performance timelines
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 A2RLQ1R NHQF4R1R1R3R1R2R A3R2R1R A A 0 / 12 French Open A A A2R2R1R1R3R2R1R1R3R2R3R1R A1R1R A 0 / 14 Wimbledon A A A1R1RQF2R3R4R3R3R3R2RSF1R3R1R3R A 0 / 15 US OpenLQ ALQ4R1R1RSF3R1R2R2R3R2R1R2R1R1R2R A 0 / 15 SR0 / 00 / 00 / 10 / 30 / 40 / 30 / 40 / 40 / 40 / 40 / 40 / 40 / 40 / 30 / 40 / 30 / 40 / 30 / 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