This article appeared in the online edition of The News Journal on July 21, 1999



McNeil upstages Martina
Smash boost home record to 5-0 

By SOLANGE UWIMANA
Staff reporter
07/21/99 

As exciting as it was, having Martina Navratilova in Delaware Tuesday night, her opponent’s
game against the Schenectady County Electrics (4-5) was remarkable. 

The Delaware Smash (7-2) won another one at the DuPont Country Club, remaining undefeated 
at home with a 5-0 record. 

They beat the Electrics, 23-17, with Lori McNeil playing the lead role for yet another 
amazing performance. 

"Lori," Smash coach Brad Dancer said. "I mean, what more can you say? 

"She was just awesome. She’s so graceful that she makes the game look beautiful to watch." 

After falling behind 8-10 following the first two matches, the mixed doubles (4-5) and the 
women’s singles (4-5), McNeil teamed with newcomer Lilian Osteloh to win 5-1 against 
Navratilova and Samantha Smith. 

McNeil had no choice but to use her own serve-and-volley game against one of the best ever 
in women’s tennis. 

"I’ve played with [Navratilova] on the tour, so I know what it feels like to play her,"
McNeil said. "Every time you play against her, even though I never won on the tour, you have
to play your best game." 

And although she did not play her best tennis, Navratilova still impressed her fans. 

"This is my first tennis match ever," Hillary Katz of Newark said. "I came because my 
daughter really wanted to come see Martina, but the match was awesome." 

"I’ve seen her play at Wimbledon and at the U.S Open," Maurice Fernandez said. "But she’s 
always amazing." 

Fernandez had brought his 2 1/2-year-old son, Diego, to watch Navratilova.  

Diego was hardly impressed. He was too busy looking for "Bloopie", as he called the Smash 
mascot, to notice Navratilova. 

"He’s a big tennis ball," he said ecstatic after finally meeting him. 

Although Navratilova did not gain a fan in Diego, she got 11-year-old Cassie Katz, who was 
definitely awed. "It was cool," she simply said.