steffi graf was the three-time defending champion but lost in the first round to lori mcneil, ending her streak of thirty-one consecutive quarter-final appearances dating back to the 1985 us open. this also marked the first time in the open era that a grand slam defending champion had lost in the first round. a defending grand slam champion would not lose in the first round again until the 2003 australian open. furthermore, this is the only wimbledon that a defending champion had lost their opening match in the open era.