Lori Mcneil was a top 20 player facing Graf in the first round. I believe Lori already had a win over Steffi so she wasn't intimidated. Lori also won the grass court event in Birmingham a few weeks earlier that year. This was an extremely tough first round match for Graf. Before the turn of century there were only 16 seeds in slams. An upset for sure but Lori is so tough on grass.

Oh lorse this was a tough match as a huge Steffi fan, but couldn’t help but come out loving McNeil

The quality of the commentary here is streets ahead of what we get today.

Back when first round matches at the Slams were fun. It's been a long time since that was the case.

Glorious match. No internet in those days. Couldn't check out scores online (definitely not watch) and I don't even think this was on broadcast TV in the States. Maybe HBO. I found out the score on the radio while at a camp. Such a different time.

A spectacular match. Think about who defeated Steffi Graf at Wimbledon: Jo Durie Pam Shriver Martina Navratilova Zina Garrison Jackson Lori McNeil Natasha Zvereva Lindsey Davenport That's a pretty elite group to be in, I'd say...

McNeil is also the pride of Texas as Ms. Harrison! I love her form and the ease she looks very elegant. I don't.miss grunts!!

Stunning match - gotta love the courage of McNeil ... she had the talents to take at least one or two Slams... a shame she did not, but this victory lives as a testament to her talents

Just became a McNeil fan. 👏👏👏

Graf had one weaknesses: getting it to her backhand side and coming to net. Either she was going to try to force a run-around forehand or she was going to have to hit a backhand pass...her most difficult shot. McNeil exploited her weakness to perfection. Not many players had the ability to do that.

Graf behaved perfectly in defeat. I can remember her saying that lori mcneil "kept the ball low and there was nothing I could do". From the NY Times: "It's not that big of an upset because of who I lost to. It's very disappointing, and obviously it didn't help me that it started raining, but we both had to play the conditions, and she played better than me; that was obvious." Great match.

What does it say that Mcneil went all the way to the semi finals where she lost a very close one to 10/8 in the 3rd.

Remember this match (was 16) very well. After a 2-6 2-6 against loss against Pierce at the RG Semis ... Steffi came with not so much confident. At that time only best 16 Players were seeded - and McNeil was only 18 in world but was considerd one of the best Grass Court players of that time. The rainy day also suited her game - she player extremly well - so all came together. It was a sensation - but McNeils run was only stoped in the Semis after a close loss to later Champion Conchita Martinez...

Lori knew that all she had to do was keep making Graf hit backhand passing shots

She made the Semis that year too which was a pretty good effort.

Wow a match that I didn't know about. What a shocker! Nice match to watch and learned about the passed>>>

That loss was a tough pill to swallow. Steffi was 3-time defending champion. Love Lori's game

Lori was a very deliberate player and that certainly had to grate on Steffi's nerves as she likes a very quick pace of play. It was quite an effective strategy to use against Steffi and it payed dividends in this match.

Excellent match and game. I love the endurance and honesty in this game. May I be granted great successes in this life. Excellent modesty!!!

Missing Virginia Wade’s commentary these days.

This was even a bigger upset than Becker losing to Doohan in the second round back in 1987.

These two got on quite well off court. They played doubles together at the US Open in 1990.

I watched this match was happy for Lori 🥳

Graf really let this match go. She had a chance to win the second set and also had a set point. Good gutsy performance from McNeill. Graf was still bewildered by her loss at the French Open by Pierce

I’m glad they got rid of the let judge at the net. He’s in the way of a potential round the post shot. It was kind of unsafe. Also it’s odd seeing players play on after a set is complete without a change over. And the conditions look like it’s October with everyone bundled up.

The weather conditions very similar to when Steffi lost Zina Garrison in 1990 - damp and cold. The ball bouncing lower, and slower through the air. Lori playing much like Zina did in that match too. Slicing and dicing and getting to the net.

Nice points on 53:07 1:35:43 1:37:06 1:54:30

The bounce was even more tricky back then.

8:49 Graf inside-out slice backhand return winner and slow motion replay.

Possibly the biggest wimbledon shock in the ladies game in the 90s

Graf was fast from the baseline but she played few times in the net, serve and volley it’s better on this surface. Steffi made so many mistakes. Her topspin backhand was her nemesis.

Amazing and sensational win for Lori!!!!

Lori McNeil played well against Steffi Graf, the Wimbledon defending champion.

The Big Mac!

I love how players didn't go to the towel every point back then- neither took one on court during play... toweling off every point adds about an hour onto a 5 set match, 45 minutes t a 4 set and 30 to a 3 set....such a waste.

That year Martinez won this episode Good for mc Neal Steffi always❤️❤️❤️

Always loved how Lori moved at net, so smooth and elegant, like novotna as well and also Sabatini, when they were coming to net and while at net the movement was singular and smooth, such great transition games. Navratilova was known as the best serve and vollyer ever but her movement at net was so athletic and muscular but the movement didn't seem as natural as the three I just mentioned. I always love watching Steffi's footwork. I don't think anyone has ever had such good, balanced and balletic footwork in the women's game, there were definitely ppl as fast if not faster than Steffi, Clijsters, Williams Sisters, Capriati when she got super fit, Sanchez Vicario. But the only person I can think moved with the same kind of "small step" speed, I'd think maybe Justine Henin.

Lori McNeil so poised im victory. With all of her talent she could have won alot more..

Had this on vhs. Was cheering for Lori I remember it well

1:54:36 Spectacular!

Great win here for Lori Graf clearly not happy lori was 17 in the world here

Upset, of all upset

Up to this point the first time ever that a defending champion lost in the first round....man or woman....of a grand slam tournament. Others have done it afterwards, but Steffi will always be the first in the record books. Another impressive record by Graf.

Genial Lori!

Lori had a clear strategy. Make Stefi pass on the backhand.

Yes it was 1st round loss, but it was not an easy game, scores were 7/5, 6/6 tiebreak, so it's not an easy match/game. Credit to both players, even it was only 1st Rd, it was a match worth watching. Steffi is only human and had proven a lot

Every great champion has a great defeat. From Graf, Serena, Roger, Nadal, Kerri Walsh, Tom Brady and even MJ.

Wow so many arguments for GOAT... I think its hard to judge coz there are so many factors... there should be no need to put these players in categories ... but appreciate them as the champions they were.. Margaret and martina for the volume of g.s won across all events.. Steffi and Serena for singles dominance... evert for most consistent record above them all... they all have aspects that make them G.o.a.t.. I even agree that It would have been scary to see what would have been Seles tally without the stabbing..

Lori was very Súper in this Wimbledom 👏🏻👏🏻

Sometimes Graf had a good offensive backhand when she needed it. But in this match, her backhand was totally off. She should have implemented her offensive backhand more into her game, so it would have been more reliable when needed.

Steffi unlucky and also victim here of her own fear- she doesn’t like Lori’s game and feels a lot of pressure. But weather is a huge factor too with interruptions. However, can I go back to these days - my childhood 😩

McNeil did very well against Steffi :)

Bravo Lori!

Steffi didn’t know what to do!

Lori was always a great aggressive player and she always stayed very calm .I think she really like the match up with Steffi.

Until they changed the grass, the first few days at Wimbledon could be a nightmare for the baselines. The ball stayed so low, so passing shots were more difficult to execute.

2:20 nice work on the ball caught Steffi out.

TRULY,TRULY ALL ABSOLUTELY BEYOND UNIMAGINABLY UNIMAGINABLE TRANSCENDENT TRANSCENDENTAL TRANSCENDING BOUNDLESSNESS LEVELS OF AMAZINGLY AMAZING AMAZINGNESS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

That was biggest upset ever

Wh1the power💪💪💪

Net cord judge's haircut... Outdated, even for 1994 lol

It's amazing to notice how the black player almost didn't get any close up shot by the cameras...

グラフもヒンギスも1回戦負けがあるなんて、 テニスって難しいね

""Sun Sets in the East - Believable"... Steffi lost first round in Wimbledon...." Newspaper headlines that depressed me full day and was crying all along...... Such a hard pill that was

these results are de rigueur in women's tennis nowadays

Wow, this must been one of the worst games of Graf I ever saw, no confidence at all, so many errors, double faults in dire situations. Every champion can have that kind of bad day I guess. Makes them more human. But the wonderful McNeil took advantage of it beautifully - great nerves, great netplay, great serve.

next to Martina, I think Lori had the best volley of that era (after Hana retired)...Zina's seemed to sit up, Jana's got short/pressure...I think if Lori had won the SF vs. Conchita, Martina would have won the title...Martina had played 4 serve volleyers in a row- trashing Novotna 61,61 in the final 2 sets (lost 1st 75), she was totally grooved against the serve volley game- Conchita's pass/baseline game threw her.

Steffi waits for her opponent to leave super act.

Next up some Zina Garrison

This was when Grand slams only seeded top 16 players instead of the ridiculous 32 seeds they do now. Lori McNeil was ranked #17 here so she just missed being seedbed. Great match by Liori. Steffi not at her best here is still the GOAT in my opinion

This looks like a totally different game than what the women play now. I can appreciate both. But i like that the women let their emotions all hang out now.

Poor Lori didn't even get to celebrate. She got rushed off by Steffi (which I understand Steffi wants off the court). The stupid rule they have to leave together. Lori should have been able to enjoy the moment with the crowd. She didn't have all the opportunities that Steffi had. Lori was a class act. Wish she had more success. She was a very talented player. I would say even more so than her friend who she grew up with, Zina Garrison.

I think steffi had a bad Pizza the night before🤣

Foot faulting like crazy.

Graf played below fifty per cent, caught out by the weather and rustiness.

Without The Stabbing Steffi also would have won Wimbledon 94.

I'm so happy She lost this one. She was flying on top after he preplanned stabbing of Seles.

Grad was definitely a great champion but her legacy was helped because she didn’t have any real rivals....especially when Monica was stabbed.

And since then, apart from Serena Williams, women’s tennis has been inconsistent af.

It's the bad day of Steffi Graf 🙏

Thank god for Venus and Serena this match was boring

Graf Started Bad 😣

😶

Shame Lori couldn’t have gone on and won the title that year.

She shoulda won the whole thing.

Why was Lori allowed to wear emerald green coloured undergarments? Very disrespectful!

Thanks to Venus and Serena for bringing power hitting into women's tennis.

Trés plaisante à voir cette Lori Mcneil. Malheureusement un jeu trop "fragile" pour une carrière erratique.

She did come back & win 95 & 96 wanted her to win 99 final & should have

How many slams Lori 00

What awful play by Steffi, possibly in response to the French of that year. Some shots great but others really off. Lori, a good journey woman player played a smart match. Also, I would hardly call this a classic, a big upset yes, but hardly a classic. A classic is when both players play well.

Bad characters graf

¡Very boring match!

They play soo bad . Comeon imagine serena play these at her top level