Byron Black


Byron Hamish Black is a Zimbabwean tennis and Davis Cup player for Zimbabwe.

Personal life

Born 6 October 1969, in Harare, Black is the son of Donald Black and Velia Black and brother to Wayne Black and Cara, who were also professional tennis players. He is married to Fiona Black, and has children. He attended the University of Southern California and was named an All-American by the Intercollegiate Tennis Association.

Tennis career

Black started playing tennis at a young age at his father’s grass court in Highlands, and played the game for Lewisham Primary School in his hometown. He played for the tennis team when he moved to the Oriel Boys High School, where he was exposed to other future Davis Cup players for Zimbabwe, like Greig Rodgers and Mark Gurr.

Pro tour

In 1995, Black was a US Open quarterfinalist, and in 2000, he reached the same round at Wimbledon. His career-high singles ranking was world No. 22, which he achieved in June 1996.
An accomplished doubles player, Black became world No. 1 in doubles in February 1994. He won the 1994 French Open partnering Jonathan Stark. Black was a doubles finalist in three other majors, the 1994 and 2001 Australian Opens and the 1996 Wimbledon Championships.
Black is one of the few professional players to have played with a double-handed forehand.
Black formed the core of the Zimbabwe Davis Cup team with his brother Wayne.

Career finals

Doubles: 41 (22 titles, 19 runner-ups)


ResultNo.DateTournamentSurfacePartnerOpponentsScore
Loss1.Apr 1992Hong Kong, British Hong KongHard|1928

Singles: 10 (2 titles, 8 runner-ups)

ResultNo.DateTournamentSurfaceOpponentScore
Loss1.Jan 1996Adelaide, AustraliaHard

Performance timelines

Doubles