Lori McNeil
Lori McNeil (born December 18, 1963) is an American tennis coach and former top 10 professional tennis player. McNeil was a singles semi-finalist 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.
Country (sports) | |
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Residence | Houston, Texas, USA |
Born | San Diego, California, U.S. | December 18, 1963
Height | 1.70 m (5 ft 7 in) |
Turned pro | 1983 |
Retired | 2002 |
Plays | Right-handed (one handed-backhand) |
Prize money | US$ 3,441,604 |
Singles | |
Career record | 436–309 |
Career titles | 10 WTA |
Highest ranking | No. 9 (July 4, 1988) |
Grand Slam Singles results | |
Australian Open | QF (1987) |
French Open | 3R (1988, 1992, 1994) |
Wimbledon | SF (1994) |
US Open | SF (1987) |
Doubles | |
Career record | 605–335 |
Career titles | 33 WTA |
Highest ranking | No. 4 (November 9, 1987) |
Grand Slam Doubles results | |
Australian Open | F (1987) |
French Open | QF (1987, 1992, 1993) |
Wimbledon | SF (1987) |
US Open | SF (1995, 1996) |
Mixed doubles | |
Career titles | 1 |
Grand Slam Mixed Doubles results | |
Australian Open | SF (1997) |
French Open | W (1988) |
Wimbledon | F (1994) |
US Open | QF (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 World No. 9 in singles (in 1988), and World 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, McNeil 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.
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.
Despite never winning a women's doubles Grand Slam title, she reached the quarter-final 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 (1 loss)
Result | Year | Tournament | Surface | Partner | Opponents | Score |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Loss | 1987 | Australian Open | Grass | 6–1, 6–0 |
Mixed doubles: 4 (1 win, 3 losses)
Result | Year | Tournament | Surface | Partner | Opponents | Score |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Loss | 1987 | French Open | Clay | 6–3, 7–6(7–4) | ||
Win | 1988 | French Open | Clay | 7–5, 6–2 | ||
Loss | 1992 | French Open | Clay | 6–2, 6–3 | ||
Loss | 1994 | Wimbledon | Grass | 3–6, 7–5, 6–3 |
WTA Tour finals
Singles: 21 (10–11)
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Result | W/L | Date | Tournament | Surface | Opponent | Score |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Loss | 1. | Feb 1986 | Oklahoma City | Carpet (i) | 4–6, 6–4, 3–6 | |
Loss | 2. | Jul 1986 | Newport | Grass | 4–6, 2–6 | |
Win | 1. | Sep 1986 | Tampa | Hard | 2–6, 7–5, 6–2 | |
Win | 2. | Sep 1986 | Tulsa | Hard | 6–0, 6–1 | |
Loss | 3. | Feb 1987 | Oklahoma City | Hard | 6–4, 3–6, 5–7 | |
Loss | 4. | Mar 1987 | Piscataway | Carpet (i) | 0–6, 3–6 | |
Loss | 5. | Sep 1987 | New Orleans | Carpet (i) | 3–6, 5–7 | |
Win | 3. | Feb 1988 | Oklahoma City | Carpet (i) | 6–3, 6–2 | |
Loss | 6. | May 1988 | Geneva | Clay | 4–6, 7–5, 1–6 | |
Win | 4. | Jul 1988 | Newport | Grass | 6–4, 4–6, 6–3 | |
Loss | 7. | Jan 1989 | Tokyo | Carpet (i) | 7–6(7–3), 3–6, 6–7(5–7) | |
Win | 5. | Aug 1989 | Albuquerque | Hard | 6–1, 6–3 | |
Win | 6. | Feb 1991 | Denver | Carpet (i) | 6–3, 6–4 | |
Win | 7. | Apr 1991 | Tokyo | Hard | 2–6, 6–2, 6–1 | |
Loss | 8. | Jul 1991 | Westchester | Hard | 4–6, 4–6 | |
Loss | 9. | Feb 1992 | Oklahoma City | Hard (i) | 5–7, 6–3, 5–7(10) | |
Win | 8. | Jun 1992 | Eastbourne | Grass | 6–4, 6–4 | |
Win | 9. | Jun 1993 | Birmingham | Grass | 6–4, 2–6, 6–3 | |
Win | 10. | Jun 1994 | Birmingham | Grass | 6–2, 6–2 | |
Loss | 10. | Jun 1995 | Birmingham | Grass | 3–6, 3–6 | |
Loss | 11. | Nov 1995 | Philadelphia | Carpet (i) | 1–6, 6–4, 3–6 |
Doubles: 64 (33–31)
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Result | No. | Date | Tournament | Surface | Partner | Opponents | Score |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Win | 1. | September 26, 1983 | Bakersfield | Hard | 6–4, 6–3 | ||
Loss | 1. | April 1, 1985 | Seabrook Island | Clay | 1–6, 3–6 | ||
Win | 2. | October 21, 1985 | Brighton | Carpet (I) | 4–6, 7–6(3), 6–4 | ||
Loss | 2. | February 24, 1986 | Oklahoma City | Carpet (I) | 6–2, 6–7(1), 1–6 | ||
Loss | 3. | October 6, 1986 | Zürich | Carpet (I) | 6–1, 4–6, 4–6 | ||
Win | 3. | October 27, 1986 | Indianapolis | Hard (I) | 4–5 ret. | ||
Win | 4. | November 10, 1986 | San Juan | Hard | 6–2, 3–6, 6–4 | ||
Win | 5. | December 1, 1986 | Buenos Aires | Clay | 6–1, 2–6, 6–1 | ||
Loss | 4. | January 12, 1987 | Australian Open | Grass | 1–6, 0–6 | ||
Loss | 5. | February 9, 1987 | Oklahoma City | Hard | 4–6, 4–6 | ||
Loss | 6. | March 23, 1987 | Washington, D.C. | Carpet (I) | 1–6, 6–3, 4–6 | ||
Win | 6. | March 29, 1987 | Piscataway | Carpet (I) | 6–1, 6–4 | ||
Loss | 7. | April 6, 1987 | Hilton Head Island | Clay | 6–7(6), 5–7 | ||
Loss | 8. | April 20, 1987 | Houston | Clay | 2–6, 4–6 | ||
Win | 7. | July 13, 1987 | Newport | Grass | 7–6(5), 7–5 | ||
Loss | 9. | August 10, 1987 | Los Angeles | Hard | 3–6, 4–6 | ||
Win | 8. | August 17, 1987 | Toronto | Hard | 6–1, 6–2 | ||
Win | 9. | August 24, 1987 | Mahwah | Hard | 6–3, 6–2 | ||
Win | 10. | September 28, 1987 | New Orleans | Carpet (I) | 6–3, 6–4 | ||
Loss | 10. | October 12, 1987 | Filderstadt | Carpet (I) | 1–6, 2–6 | ||
Loss | 11. | November 9, 1987 | Chicago | Carpet (I) | 4–6, 3–6 | ||
Win | 11. | February 8, 1988 | Dallas | Carpet (I) | 2–6, 6–4, 7–5 | ||
Win | 12. | February 29, 1988 | San Antonio | Hard | 6–3, 6–7(5), 6–2 | ||
Win | 13. | April 4, 1988 | Hilton Head Island | Clay | 6–2, 2–6, 6–3 | ||
Loss | 12. | April 18, 1988 | Houston | Clay | 7–6(4), 2–6, 4–6 | ||
Loss | 13. | July 11, 1988 | Newport | Grass | 4–6, 3–6 | ||
Loss | 14. | October 3, 1988 | New Orleans | Hard | 4–6, 4–6 | ||
Win | 14. | October 24, 1988 | Brighton | Carpet (I) | 7–6(5), 2–6, 7–6(4) | ||
Win | 15. | November 7, 1988 | Chicago | Carpet (I) | 6–4, 3–6, 6–4 | ||
Loss | 15. | November 28, 1988 | Adelaide | Hard | 5–7, 7–6(4), 4–6 | ||
Win | 16. | February 27, 1989 | Oklahoma City | Hard (I) | w/o | ||
Loss | 16. | March 20, 1989 | Key Biscayne | Hard | 6–7(5), 4–6 | ||
Loss | 17. | April 24, 1989 | Houston | Clay | 3–6, 4–6 | ||
Win | 17. | May 22, 1989 | Geneva | Clay | 2–6, 6–3, 6–4 | ||
Win | 18. | July 17, 1989 | Newport | Grass | 6–3, 6–7(5), 7–5 | ||
Win | 19. | October 23, 1989 | Brighton | Carpet (I) | 4–6, 7–6(7), 6–4 | ||
Win | 20. | October 30, 1989 | Indianapolis | Hard (I) | 6–4, 6–4 | ||
Loss | 18. | February 11, 1991 | Denver | Carpet (I) | 4–6, 4–6 | ||
Win | 21. | May 20, 1991 | Strasbourg | Clay | 6–7(2), 6–4, 6–4 | ||
Loss | 19. | July 22, 1991 | Westchester | Hard | 5–7, 4–6 | ||
Win | 22. | September 30, 1991 | Milan | Carpet (I) | 7–6(0), 6–3 | ||
Loss | 20. | October 7, 1991 | Zürich | Carpet (I) | 4–6, 3–6 | ||
Loss | 21. | October 21, 1991 | Brighton | Carpet (I) | 1–6, 2–6 | ||
Win | 23. | February 17, 1992 | Oklahoma City | Hard (I) | 3–6, 6–4, 7–6(6) | ||
Loss | 22. | May 18, 1992 | Strasbourg | Clay | 3–6, 4–6 | ||
Win | 24. | June 8, 1992 | Birmingham | Grass | 5–7, 6–3, 8–6 | ||
Win | 25. | August 17, 1992 | Montreal | Hard | 3–6, 7–5, 7–5 | ||
Runner-up | 23. | January 11, 1993 | Sydney | Hard | 6–7(4), 2–6 | ||
Runner-up | 24. | February 1, 1993 | Tokyo | Carpet (I) | 4–6, 3–6 | ||
Win | 26. | June 7, 1993 | Birmingham | Grass | 6–3, 6–4 | ||
Win | 27. | March 28, 1994 | Hilton Head Island | Clay | 6–4, 4–1 ret. | ||
Win | 28. | May 16, 1994 | Strasbourg | Clay | 6–3, 3–6, 6–2 | ||
Runner-up | 25. | March 6, 1995 | Delray Beach | Hard | 4–6, 0–6 | ||
Runner-up | 26. | October 16, 1995 | Brighton | Carpet (I) | 5–7, 1–6 | ||
Win | 29. | October 30, 1995 | Oakland | Carpet (I) | 3–6, 6–4, 6–3 | ||
Win | 30. | November 6, 1995 | Philadelphia | Carpet (I) | 4–6, 6–3, 6–4 | ||
Runner-up | 27. | January 8, 1996 | Sydney | Hard | 3–6, 3–6 | ||
Runner-up | 28. | February 19, 1996 | Essen | Carpet (I) | 6–3, 3–6, 2–6 | ||
Runner-up | 29. | June 10, 1996 | Birmingham | Grass | 3–6, 6–3, 1–6 | ||
Runner-up | 30. | November 11, 1996 | Philadelphia | Carpet (I) | 4–6, 6–3, 3–6 | ||
Win | 31. | October 26, 1998 | Quebec City | Hard (I) | 6–7(3), 7–5, 6–4 | ||
Win | 32. | February 19, 2001 | Oklahoma City | Hard (I) | 6–3, 2–6, 6–0 | ||
Runner-up | 31. | May 21, 2001 | Strasbourg | Clay | 1–6, 6–7(0) | ||
Win | 33. | September 10, 2001 | Bahia | Hard | 6–7(8), 6–2, 6–4 |
Grand Slam tournament timeline
W | F | SF | QF | #R | RR | Q# | A | NH |
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 |
References
- Johnson, Roy (11 September 1987). "Winning Started at Home for McNeil". New York Times. Retrieved 9 July 2020.
- "Lori McNeil – National Coach, Women's Tennis". USTA website. Retrieved 9 July 2020.
External links
- Lori McNeil at the Women's Tennis Association
- Lori McNeil at the International Tennis Federation
- Lori McNeil at the Fed Cup