Lori McNeil
Lori McNeil 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.
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.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, and World No. 4 in doubles.
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 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 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.
In 2006, McNeil was inducted into the ITA Hall of Fame.
Grand Slam finals
Doubles: 1 (1 loss)
Mixed doubles: 4 (1 win, 3 losses)
WTA Tour finals
Singles: 21 (10–11)
| Result | W/L | Date | Tournament | Surface | Opponent | Score |
| Loss | 1. | Feb 1986 | Oklahoma City | Carpet |  Marcella Mesker | 4–6, 6–4, 3–6 |
| Loss | 2. | Jul 1986 | Newport | Grass |  Pam Shriver | 4–6, 2–6 |
| Win | 1. | Sep 1986 | Tampa | Hard | Zina Garrison | 2–6, 7–5, 6–2 |
| Win | 2. | Sep 1986 | :fr:Tournoi de Tulsa|Tulsa | Hard | Beth Herr | 6–0, 6–1 |
| Loss | 3. | Feb 1987 | Oklahoma City | Hard |  Elizabeth Smylie | 6–4, 3–6, 5–7 |
| Loss | 4. | Mar 1987 | Piscataway | Carpet |  Helena Suková | 0–6, 3–6 |
| Loss | 5. | Sep 1987 | New Orleans | Carpet | Chris Evert | 3–6, 5–7 |
| Win | 3. | Feb 1988 | Oklahoma City | Carpet | Brenda Schultz | 6–3, 6–2 |
| Loss | 6. | May 1988 | Geneva | Clay |  Barbara Paulus | 4–6, 7–5, 1–6 |
| Win | 4. | Jul 1988 | Newport | Grass | Barbara Potter | 6–4, 4–6, 6–3 |
| Loss | 7. | Jan 1989 | Tokyo | Carpet | Martina Navratilova | 7–6, 3–6, 6–7 |
| Win | 5. | Aug 1989 | Albuquerque | Hard |  Elna Reinach | 6–1, 6–3 |
| Win | 6. | Feb 1991 | Denver | Carpet | Manon Bollegraf | 6–3, 6–4 |
| Win | 7. | Apr 1991 | Tokyo | Hard |  Sabine Appelmans | 2–6, 6–2, 6–1 |
| Loss | 8. | Jul 1991 | Westchester | Hard |  Isabelle Demongeot | 4–6, 4–6 |
| Loss | 9. | Feb 1992 | Oklahoma City | Hard | Zina Garrison | 5–7, 6–3, 5–7 |
| Win | 8. | Jun 1992 | Eastbourne | Grass | Linda Wild | 6–4, 6–4 |
| Win | 9. | Jun 1993 | Birmingham | Grass | Zina Garrison | 6–4, 2–6, 6–3 |
| Win | 10. | Jun 1994 | Birmingham | Grass | Zina Garrison | 6–2, 6–2 |
| Loss | 10. | Jun 1995 | Birmingham | Grass | Zina Garrison | 3–6, 3–6 |
| Loss | 11. | Nov 1995 | Philadelphia | Carpet |  Steffi Graf | 1–6, 6–4, 3–6 |
Doubles: 64 (33–31)
| Result | No. | Date | Tournament | Surface | Partner | Opponents | Score |
| Win | 1. | September 26, 1983 | Bakersfield | Hard | :fr:Kylie Copeland|Kylie Copeland | Ann Henricksson  Patricia Medrado | 6–4, 6–3 |
| Loss | 1. | April 1, 1985 | Seabrook Island | Clay | Elise Burgin |  Svetlana Parkhomenko Larisa Savchenko | 1–6, 3–6 |
| Win | 2. | October 21, 1985 | Brighton | Carpet | Catherine Suire | Barbara Potter  Helena Suková | 4–6, 7–6, 6–4 |
| Loss | 2. | February 24, 1986 | Oklahoma City | Carpet | Catherine Suire | Marcella Mesker Pascale Paradis | 6–2, 6–7, 1–6 |
| Loss | 3. | October 6, 1986 | Zürich | Carpet | Alycia Moulton |  Steffi Graf  Gabriela Sabatini | 6–1, 4–6, 4–6 |
| Win | 3. | October 27, 1986 | Indianapolis | Hard | Zina Garrison | Candy Reynolds Anne Smith | 4–5 ret. |
| Win | 4. | November 10, 1986 | San Juan | Hard | Mercedes Paz | Gigi Fernández Robin White | 6–2, 3–6, 6–4 |
| Win | 5. | December 1, 1986 | Buenos Aires | Clay | Mercedes Paz | Manon Bollegraf Nicole Jagerman | 6–1, 2–6, 6–1 |
| Loss | 4. | January 12, 1987 | Australian Open | Grass | Zina Garrison | Martina Navratilova Pam Shriver | 1–6, 0–6 |
| Loss | 5. | February 9, 1987 | Oklahoma City | Hard | :fr:Kim Sands|Kim Sands | Svetlana Parkhomenko Larisa Savchenko | 4–6, 4–6 |
| Loss | 6. | March 23, 1987 | Washington, D.C. | Carpet | Zina Garrison | Elise Burgin Pam Shriver | 1–6, 6–3, 4–6 |
| Win | 6. | March 29, 1987 | Piscataway | Carpet | Gigi Fernández | Betsy Nagelsen Elizabeth Smylie | 6–1, 6–4 |
| Loss | 7. | April 6, 1987 | Hilton Head Island | Clay | Zina Garrison | Mercedes Paz Eva Pfaff | 6–7, 5–7 |
| Loss | 8. | April 20, 1987 | Houston | Clay | Zina Garrison | Kathy Jordan Martina Navratilova | 2–6, 4–6 |
| Win | 7. | July 13, 1987 | Newport | Grass | Gigi Fernández |  Anne Hobbs Kathy Jordan | 7–6, 7–5 |
| Loss | 9. | August 10, 1987 | Los Angeles | Hard | Zina Garrison | Martina Navratilova Pam Shriver | 3–6, 4–6 |
| Win | 8. | August 17, 1987 | Toronto | Hard | Zina Garrison | Claudia Kohde-Kilsch Helena Suková | 6–1, 6–2 |
| Win | 9. | August 24, 1987 | Mahwah | Hard | Gigi Fernández | Anne Hobbs Elizabeth Smylie | 6–3, 6–2 |
| Win | 10. | September 28, 1987 | New Orleans | Carpet | Zina Garrison | Peanut Louie Harper Heather Ludloff | 6–3, 6–4 |
| Loss | 10. | October 12, 1987 | Filderstadt | Carpet | Zina Garrison | Martina Navratilova Pam Shriver | 1–6, 2–6 |
| Loss | 11. | November 9, 1987 | Chicago | Carpet | Zina Garrison | Claudia Kohde-Kilsch Helena Suková | 4–6, 3–6 |
| Win | 11. | February 8, 1988 | Dallas | Carpet | Eva Pfaff | Gigi Fernández Zina Garrison | 2–6, 6–4, 7–5 |
| Win | 12. | February 29, 1988 | San Antonio | Hard | Helena Suková | Rosalyn Fairbank Gretchen Magers | 6–3, 6–7, 6–2 |
| Win | 13. | April 4, 1988 | Hilton Head Island | Clay | Martina Navratilova | Claudia Kohde-Kilsch Gabriela Sabatini | 6–2, 2–6, 6–3 |
| Loss | 12. | April 18, 1988 | Houston | Clay | Martina Navratilova | Katrina Adams Zina Garrison | 7–6, 2–6, 4–6 |
| Loss | 13. | July 11, 1988 | Newport | Grass | Gigi Fernández | Rosalyn Fairbank Barbara Potter | 4–6, 3–6 |
| Loss | 14. | October 3, 1988 | New Orleans | Hard | Betsy Nagelsen | Beth Herr Candy Reynolds | 4–6, 4–6 |
| Win | 14. | October 24, 1988 | Brighton | Carpet | Betsy Nagelsen | Isabelle Demongeot Nathalie Tauziat | 7–6, 2–6, 7–6 |
| Win | 15. | November 7, 1988 | Chicago | Carpet | Betsy Nagelsen | Larisa Savchenko Natasha Zvereva | 6–4, 3–6, 6–4 |
| Loss | 15. | November 28, 1988 | Adelaide | Hard | Jana Novotná | Sylvia Hanika Claudia Kohde-Kilsch | 5–7, 7–6, 4–6 |
| Win | 16. | February 27, 1989 | Oklahoma City | Hard | Betsy Nagelsen | Elise Burgin Elizabeth Smylie | w/o |
| Loss | 16. | March 20, 1989 | Key Biscayne | Hard | Gigi Fernández | Jana Novotná Helena Suková | 6–7, 4–6 |
| Loss | 17. | April 24, 1989 | Houston | Clay | Gigi Fernández | Katrina Adams Zina Garrison | 3–6, 4–6 |
| Win | 17. | May 22, 1989 | Geneva | Clay | Katrina Adams | Larisa Savchenko Natasha Zvereva | 2–6, 6–3, 6–4 |
| Win | 18. | July 17, 1989 | Newport | Grass | Gigi Fernández | Elizabeth Smylie Wendy Turnbull | 6–3, 6–7, 7–5 |
| Win | 19. | October 23, 1989 | Brighton | Carpet | Katrina Adams | Hana Mandlíková Jana Novotná | 4–6, 7–6, 6–4 |
| Win | 20. | October 30, 1989 | Indianapolis | Hard | Katrina Adams | Claudia Porwik Larisa Savchenko | 6–4, 6–4 |
| Loss | 18. | February 11, 1991 | Denver | Carpet | Patty Fendick | Lise Gregory Gretchen Rush | 4–6, 4–6 |
| Win | 21. | May 20, 1991 | Strasbourg | Clay | Stephanie Rehe | Manon Bollegraf Mercedes Paz | 6–7, 6–4, 6–4 |
| Loss | 19. | July 22, 1991 | Westchester | Hard | Katrina Adams | Rosalyn Fairbank Lise Gregory | 5–7, 4–6 |
| Win | 22. | September 30, 1991 | Milan | Carpet | Sandy Collins | Sabine Appelmans  Raffaella Reggi | 7–6, 6–3 |
| Loss | 20. | October 7, 1991 | Zürich | Carpet | Zina Garrison | Jana Novotná Andrea Strnadová | 4–6, 3–6 |
| Loss | 21. | October 21, 1991 | Brighton | Carpet | Zina Garrison | Pam Shriver Natasha Zvereva | 1–6, 2–6 |
| Win | 23. | February 17, 1992 | Oklahoma City | Hard | Nicole Provis | Katrina Adams Manon Bollegraf | 3–6, 6–4, 7–6 |
| Loss | 22. | May 18, 1992 | Strasbourg | Clay | Mercedes Paz | Patty Fendick Andrea Strnadová | 3–6, 4–6 |
| Win | 24. | June 8, 1992 | Birmingham | Grass | Rennae Stubbs | Sandy Collins Elna Reinach | 5–7, 6–3, 8–6 |
| Win | 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, 2–6 |
| Runner-up | 24. | February 1, 1993 | Tokyo | Carpet | Rennae Stubbs | Martina Navratilova Helena Suková | 4–6, 3–6 |
| Win | 26. | June 7, 1993 | Birmingham | Grass | Martina Navratilova | Pam Shriver Elizabeth Smylie | 6–3, 6–4 |
| Win | 27. | March 28, 1994 | Hilton Head Island | Clay |  Arantxa Sánchez Vicario | Gigi Fernández Natasha Zvereva | 6–4, 4–1 ret. |
| Win | 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 | Helena Suková | Meredith McGrath Larisa Neiland | 5–7, 1–6 |
| Win | 29. | October 30, 1995 | Oakland | Carpet | Helena Suková | Katrina Adams Zina Garrison | 3–6, 6–4, 6–3 |
| Win | 30. | November 6, 1995 | Philadelphia | Carpet | 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 | 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 | Nicole Arendt | Lisa Raymond Rennae Stubbs | 4–6, 6–3, 3–6 |
| Win | 31. | October 26, 1998 | Quebec City | Hard | Kimberly Po | Chanda Rubin Sandrine Testud | 6–7, 7–5, 6–4 |
| Win | 32. | February 19, 2001 | Oklahoma City | Hard |  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 |
| Win | 33. | September 10, 2001 | Bahia | Hard | Amanda Coetzer | Nicole Arendt Patricia Tarabini | 6–7, 6–2, 6–4 |