Figure skating reporter Elvin Walker said that Meissner's Lutz combination jump and triple flip in her short program were her strengths going into the 2007–2008 Grand Prix final. He also stated that her program components were not as challenging as the other five competitors, so she needed to "skate perfect programs" to excel in Torino. During her short program, she lost points for taking off on the wrong edge on her triple flip and underrotated her second jump in her triple Lutz-triple toe loop combination, but was able to successfully complete a double Axel and two level-four spins. She came in fifth place after the short program, with 59.08 points. She later told reporters that she felt that she had delivered a strong program, despite her scores. Meissner ultimately came in sixth place, after coming in sixth place in the free skate, with 95.14 points. She fell on both her triple Lutzes and on her opening triple flip, which was penalized because she took off on the wrong edge. After what Philip Hersh of the "Chicago Tribune" called her "poor Grand Prix Final performances", Meissner told figure skating commentator Peter Carruthers that she needed to train harder before U.S. Nationals. Carruthers said that she seemed to be "second-guessing" herself and that she lacked "full conviction". Hersh also said that Meissner's skating was inconsistent since winning Worlds in 2006, and that she needed to figure out the reasons for her unsuccessful performances before Nationals in order to qualify for the 2008 Worlds Championships. Her choreographer Lori Nichol felt that Meissner's results in Turin would motivate her to do better.