# Lori McNeil

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 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 tournament finals
### Doubles: 1 (runner-up)

| Result | Year | Tournament | Surface | Partner | Opponents | Score |
| Loss | 1987 | Australian Open | Grass | Zina Garrison | Martina Navratilova 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 | 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, 6–2 |
| Loss | 1992 | French Open | Clay | Bryan Shelton | Arantxa Sánchez Vicario Mark Woodforde | 6–2, 6–3 |
| Loss | 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)
| Result | W/L | Date | Tournament | Surface | Opponent | Score |
| Loss | 0–1 | Feb 1986 | Oklahoma City, US | Carpet (i) | Marcella Mesker | 4–6, 6–4, 3–6 |
| Loss | 0–2 | Jul 1986 | Newport, US | Grass | Pam Shriver | 4–6, 2–6 |
| Win | 1–2 | Sep 1986 | Tampa, US | Hard | Zina Garrison | 2–6, 7–5, 6–2 |
| Win | 2–2 | Sep 1986 | Tulsa, US | Hard | Beth Herr | 6–0, 6–1 |
| Loss | 2–3 | Feb 1987 | Oklahoma City, US | Hard | Elizabeth Smylie | 6–4, 3–6, 5–7 |
| Loss | 2–4 | Mar 1987 | Piscataway, US | Carpet (i) | Helena Suková | 0–6, 3–6 |
| Loss | 2–5 | Sep 1987 | New Orleans, US | Carpet (i) | Chris Evert | 3–6, 5–7 |
| Win | 3–5 | Feb 1988 | Oklahoma City, US | Carpet (i) | Brenda Schultz | 6–3, 6–2 |
| Loss | 3–6 | May 1988 | Geneva, Switzerland | Clay | Barbara Paulus | 4–6, 7–5, 1–6 |
| Win | 4–6 | Jul 1988 | Newport, US | Grass | Barbara Potter | 6–4, 4–6, 6–3 |
| Loss | 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, 6–3 |
| Win | 6–7 | Feb 1991 | Denver, US | Carpet (i) | Manon Bollegraf | 6–3, 6–4 |
| Win | 7–7 | Apr 1991 | Tokyo, Japan | Hard | Sabine Appelmans | 2–6, 6–2, 6–1 |
| Loss | 7–8 | Jul 1991 | Westchester, US | Hard | Isabelle Demongeot | 4–6, 4–6 |
| Loss | 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, 6–4 |
| Win | 9–9 | Jun 1993 | Birmingham, UK | Grass | Zina Garrison | 6–4, 2–6, 6–3 |
| Win | 10–9 | Jun 1994 | Birmingham, UK | Grass | Zina Garrison | 6–2, 6–2 |
| Loss | 10–10 | Jun 1995 | Birmingham, UK | Grass | Zina Garrison | 3–6, 3–6 |
| Loss | 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 | Opponents | Score |
| Win | 1. | Sep 1983 | Bakersfield | Hard | Kyle Copeland | Ann Henricksson Patricia Medrado | 6–4, 6–3 |
| Loss | 1. | Apr 1985 | Seabrook Island | Clay | Elise Burgin | Svetlana Parkhomenko Larisa Savchenko | 1–6, 3–6 |
| Win | 2. | Oct 1985 | Brighton | Carpet (i) | Catherine Suire | Barbara Potter Helena Suková | 4–6, 7–6$^{(3)}$, 6–4 |
| Loss | 2. | Feb 1986 | Memphis | Carpet (i) | Catherine Suire | Marcella Mesker Pascale Paradis | 6–2, 6–7$^{(1)}$, 1–6 |
| Loss | 3. | Oct 1986 | Zürich | Carpet (i) | Alycia Moulton | Steffi Graf Gabriela Sabatini | 6–1, 4–6, 4–6 |
| Win | 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, 6–4 |
| Win | 5. | Dec 1986 | Buenos Aires | Clay | Mercedes Paz | Manon Bollegraf Nicole Jagerman | 6–1, 2–6, 6–1 |
| Loss | 4. | Jan 1987 | Australian Open | Grass | Zina Garrison | Martina Navratilova Pam Shriver | 1–6, 0–6 |
| Loss | 5. | Feb 1987 | Memphis | Hard | Kim Sands | Svetlana Parkhomenko Larisa Savchenko | 4–6, 4–6 |
| Loss | 6. | Mar 1987 | Washington D.C. | Carpet (i) | Zina Garrison | Elise Burgin Pam Shriver | 1–6, 6–3, 4–6 |
| Win | 6. | Mar, 1987 | Piscataway | Carpet (i) | Gigi Fernández | Betsy Nagelsen Elizabeth Smylie | 6–1, 6–4 |
| Loss | 7. | Apr 1987 | Hilton Head | Clay | Zina Garrison | Mercedes Paz Eva Pfaff | 6–7$^{(6)}$, 5–7 |
| Loss | 8. | Apr 1987 | Houston | Clay | Zina Garrison | Kathy Jordan Martina Navratilova | 2–6, 4–6 |
| Win | 7. | Jul 1987 | Newport | Grass | Gigi Fernández | Anne Hobbs Kathy Jordan | 7–6$^{(5)}$, 7–5 |
| Loss | 9. | Aug 1987 | Los Angeles | Hard | Zina Garrison | Martina Navratilova Pam Shriver | 3–6, 4–6 |
| Win | 8. | Aug 1987 | Toronto | Hard | Zina Garrison | Claudia Kohde-Kilsch Helena Suková | 6–1, 6–2 |
| Win | 9. | Aug 1987 | Mahwah | Hard | Gigi Fernández | Anne Hobbs Elizabeth Smylie | 6–3, 6–2 |
| Win | 10. | Sep 1987 | New Orleans | Carpet (i) | Zina Garrison | Peanut Louie Harper Heather Ludloff | 6–3, 6–4 |
| Loss | 10. | Oct 1987 | Filderstadt | Carpet (i) | Zina Garrison | Martina Navratilova Pam Shriver | 1–6, 2–6 |
| Loss | 11. | Nov 1987 | Chicago | Carpet (i) | Zina Garrison | Claudia Kohde-Kilsch Helena Suková | 4–6, 3–6 |
| Win | 11. | Feb 1988 | Dallas | Carpet (i) | Eva Pfaff | Gigi Fernández Zina Garrison | 2–6, 6–4, 7–5 |
| Win | 12. | Feb 1988 | San Antonio | Hard | Helena Suková | Rosalyn Fairbank Gretchen Magers | 6–3, 6–7$^{(5)}$, 6–2 |
| Win | 13. | Apr 1988 | Hilton Head | Clay | Martina Navratilova | Claudia Kohde-Kilsch Gabriela Sabatini | 6–2, 2–6, 6–3 |
| Loss | 12. | Apr 1988 | Houston | Clay | Martina Navratilova | Katrina Adams Zina Garrison | 7–6$^{(4)}$, 2–6, 4–6 |
| Loss | 13. | Jul 1988 | Newport | Grass | Gigi Fernández | Rosalyn Fairbank Barbara Potter | 4–6, 3–6 |
| Loss | 14. | Oct 1988 | New Orleans | Hard | Betsy Nagelsen | Beth Herr Candy Reynolds | 4–6, 4–6 |
| Win | 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, 6–4 |
| Loss | 15. | Nov 1988 | Adelaide | Hard | Jana Novotná | Sylvia Hanika Claudia Kohde-Kilsch | 5–7, 7–6$^{(4)}$, 4–6 |
| Win | 16. | Feb 1989 | Memphis | Hard (i) | Betsy Nagelsen | Elise Burgin Elizabeth Smylie | w/o |
| Loss | 16. | Mar 1989 | Key Biscayne | Hard | Gigi Fernández | Jana Novotná Helena Suková | 6–7$^{(5)}$, 4–6 |
| Loss | 17. | Apr 1989 | Houston | Clay | Gigi Fernández | Katrina Adams Zina Garrison | 3–6, 4–6 |
| Win | 17. | May 1989 | Geneva | Clay | Katrina Adams | Larisa Savchenko Natasha Zvereva | 2–6, 6–3, 6–4 |
| Win | 18. | Jul 1989 | Newport | Grass | Gigi Fernández | Elizabeth Smylie Wendy Turnbull | 6–3, 6–7$^{(5)}$, 7–5 |
| Win | 19. | Oct 1989 | Brighton | Carpet (i) | Katrina Adams | Hana Mandlíková Jana Novotná | 4–6, 7–6$^{(7)}$, 6–4 |
| Win | 20. | Oct 1989 | Indianapolis | Hard (i) | Katrina Adams | Claudia Porwik Larisa Savchenko | 6–4, 6–4 |
| Loss | 18. | Feb 1991 | Denver | Carpet (i) | Patty Fendick | Lise Gregory Gretchen Rush | 4–6, 4–6 |
| Win | 21. | May 1991 | Strasbourg | Clay | Stephanie Rehe | Manon Bollegraf Mercedes Paz | 6–7$^{(2)}$, 6–4, 6–4 |
| Loss | 19. | Jul 1991 | Westchester | Hard | Katrina Adams | Rosalyn Fairbank Lise Gregory | 5–7, 4–6 |
| Win | 22. | Sep 1991 | Milan | Carpet (i) | Sandy Collins | Sabine Appelmans Raffaella Reggi | 7–6$^{(0)}$, 6–3 |
| Loss | 20. | Oct 1991 | Zürich | Carpet (i) | Zina Garrison | Jana Novotná Andrea Strnadová | 4–6, 3–6 |
| Loss | 21. | Oct 1991 | Brighton | Carpet (i) | Zina Garrison | Pam Shriver Natasha Zvereva | 1–6, 2–6 |
| Win | 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, 4–6 |
| Win | 24. | Jun 1992 | Birmingham | Grass | Rennae Stubbs | Sandy Collins Elna Reinach | 5–7, 6–3, 8–6 |
| Win | 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, 3–6 |
| Win | 26. | Jun 1993 | Birmingham | Grass | Martina Navratilova | Pam Shriver Elizabeth Smylie | 6–3, 6–4 |
| Win | 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, 1–6 |
| Win | 29. | Oct 1995 | Oakland | Carpet (i) | Helena Suková | Katrina Adams Zina Garrison | 3–6, 6–4, 6–3 |
| Win | 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, 3–6 |
| Win | 31. | Oct 1998 | Quebec City | Hard (i) | Kimberly Po | Chanda Rubin Sandrine Testud | 6–7$^{(3)}$, 7–5, 6–4 |
| Win | 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

Key :
| W | F | SF | QF | #R | RR | Q# | DNQ | 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 |