On this day (June 21), 21 years ago, in front of a 13,000-strong crowd at the All England Club, the unseeded American Lori McNeil pulled off a remarkable upset over Germany’s Steffi Graf, who became the first women’s singles defending champion in Wimbledon’s 108-year history (at the time) to lose in the first round the following year.
– #360LIVE: Sri Lanka vs Pakistan – First Test, day five
– Happy Birthday: Jeremy Coney, Michel Platini, Matt Kuchar
– #360Snapshot: Austrian GP, US Open & latest UAE headlines
In a match that took five hours from start to finish, thanks to two rain delays, McNeil finished off Graf 7-5, 7-6 (7/5) with a forehand volley that eluded the German.
It was Graf’s only defeat at Wimbledon between 1991 and 1997 and McNeil went on to reach the semi-finals that year, before losing to eventual champion Conchita Martinez.
More memorable events on this day
1939: The New York Yankees announce Lou Gehrig’s retirement after doctors reveal he has amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).
1981: Gilles Villeneuve wins the Spanish Grand Prix in one of the closest finishes in F1 history.
2003: Lennox Lewis beats Vitali Klitschko after the fight was stopped in the sixth round due to doctor’s orders, in what was Lewis’ final bout of his career.
2012: Miami Heat complete a 4-1 Finals victory over Oklahoma City Thunder to clinch the NBA title.