Tennis / Julie Cart : McNeil Is Doing Well, Enjoying It

Is anyone tired of hearing about the youth movement in tennis? Or is it the lack of good young American players? Hard to keep those trends straight.

It does get fatiguing to listen to 18-year-olds yawn while discussing their $200,000 earnings and the grinding travel to France, Sweden, England, Italy and Australia. And all those autographs, never a moment’s peace.

So it is refreshing to find a young player who is enjoying herself, is trying hard and is thankful for the chance. Lori McNeil is one such tennis player.

McNeil, 22, had her first breakthrough at Wimbledon this year. She got to the quarterfinals without losing a set, then lost in the quarterfinals to Hana Mandlikova, but not before taking the first set from the reigning U.S. Open champion. McNeil was ranked 78th at the time, and Mandlikova said of her: “She can play unbelievable shots.” This, from a woman who is as easy with compliments as Jack Benny was with money.

McNeil grew up knowing she wasn’t going to follow precisely in her father’s athletic footsteps. Charlie McNeil was a defensive back with the San Diego Chargers and, later, the Houston Oilers. It was the family’s move to Houston that brought tennis to the fore in McNeil’s life.

“We had played a little in San Diego,” McNeil said in a phone interview from Houston. “I went with my mother to a public court to play (in Houston). There I watched John (Wilkerson, now her coach) give lessons. It was pretty interesting. I couldn’t hit the ball in the court. I hit it too hard.

“I picked it up pretty well. My backhand came much easier than my forehand. I really wanted to learn how to play, and I think John could tell that. I used to just sit around and watch him teach.”

Also sitting around on those courts in Houston was Zina Garrison, who was ranked as high as No. 5 last year. The two became friends and now travel together on the tour.

“We’ve been together so long, it’s like we are sisters,” McNeil said. “It’s great to have someone to travel with on the tour.”

So fast was their friendship, in fact, that when Garrison, who is also black, turned pro in 1981, McNeil wanted to follow. Her parents had other ideas.

“My parents really wanted me to go to college,” she said. “I was indecisive. I went (to Oklahoma State) for two years. I didn’t really like school, my tennis was really not improving. After my sophomore year, I had second thoughts. Finally, I made the decision to leave school and turn pro. My parents were unhappy, but they understand.”

McNeil said the transition to the pros was mild, except for learning about the various responsibilities professional players have.

“The things that go on at tournaments I didn’t know about,” she said. “As a junior, you go out and play. You don’t have responsibilities. Now, I have to go to sponsor parties, lots of things. There’s more to it than playing.”

With her success at Wimbledon, McNeil is only now being known as something other than “the other black player.”

“I don’t mind (the label),” she said. “I’m black, I’ll always be black. But I do want people to know me for my tennis.”

Now, maybe they will. McNeil will compete in this week’s Virginia Slims of Los Angeles, starting Monday at Manhattan Country Club.

Tennis Notes Melissa Gurney’s win at the Slims of San Diego made it two in a row for the 17-year-old from Rancho Palos Verdes. She has won $22,000 this year, more than she won in the entire season last year. She beat her former junior nemesis, Stephanie Rehe. “I was nervous and excited at the same time,” Gurney said. “The last time I played her was two years ago. She has improved her serve, and I think we both are a lot smarter.” Gurney is celebrating her wins with a shopping spree, “but only stuff for school.” Gurney is a wild-card entrant in the Slims of Los Angeles. . . .Volvo tennis league playoffs are set for Aug. 16-17 at the Tennis Center at UCLA. The matches are free to the public and begin at 7 a.m. Saturday and 8 a.m. Sunday. Winners from this adult recreational league advance to the national finals in September. . . . A dozen players from the area are competing in the national finals of the Equitable Family Tennis Challenge Sept. 3-7 at the National Tennis Center in New York. Entrants, and their respective categories, are: Teri and Trina Eggers of Orange in the mother-daughter division, Mary and Mike Noel of Bakersfield in the mother-son division, George and Pam Ridgley of Bakersfield in the father-daughter division, Ron and Greg Skaggs of Upland in the father-son division, Jerry and Mona Van Linge of Irvine in the husband-wife division and Sean and Nicole Willette of San Diego in the brother-sister division. . . . The first Bear Creek Tennis Open Clay Court Championships are scheduled for Sept. 5-7 and Sept. 13-14. The tournament is at the Jack Nicklaus Bear Creek Swim and Racquet Club in Murrieta.