Wayne Hamilton Black (born 17 November 1973) is a former professional tennis player from Zimbabwe. The son of former player Don Black, Black turned professional in 1994 and reached his highest singles ranking of 69 on 30 March 1998. He is the younger brother of fellow ATP Tour player Byron Black, with the pair forming the mainstay of the Zimbabwe Davis Cup team for over a decade.
Black struggled for consistency in his singles game and by the new millennium had converted to a doubles specialist, in which he experienced greater success. He won two men's doubles Grand Slam titles at the 2001 U.S. Open and 2005 Australian Open with compatriot Kevin Ullyett,[1] as well as two Grand Slam mixed doubles titles at the 2002 French Open and 2004 Wimbledon with sister Cara Black.
He reached his career-high doubles ranking of 4 on 31 January 2005, following his second Grand Slam title win, and retired from professional play in 2005.[1]
Early life and education
Black and his siblings Byron and Cara were drilled in tennis from a young age by their father; they frequently played at least an hour of tennis before the school day began, another hour after school, followed by a third hour once homework had been completed.
He was educated at St. John's College in Harare and the University of Southern California, but left before completing his degree to go professional.[2]
Personal life
Black married Kazakhstani tennis player Irina Selyutina and settled in the United Kingdom following retirement, where both of his children were born.[2] He competed in club tennis for Sutton Tennis & Squash Club for a period of time alongside his former coach Miles Maclagan.[3] Citing a failure to get used to the colder climate of London, he later moved back to his home country and ran a tourist lodge with his wife.[2]
Career finals
Doubles (18 titles, 15 runner-ups)
|
|
| Result | No. | Date | Tournament | Surface | Partner | Opponents | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loss | 1. | 25 May 1998 | St. Poelten, Austria | Clay |  David Adams
|
 Jim Grabb  David Macpherson
|
4–6, 4–6 |
| Win | 1. | 15 February 1999 | Dubai, UAE | Hard | Sandon Stolle
|
David Adams John-Laffnie de Jager
|
4–6, 6–1, 6–4 |
| Win | 2. | 15 March 1999 | Indian Wells, United States | Hard | Sandon Stolle
|
Ellis Ferreira Rick Leach
|
7–6(7–4), 6–3 |
| Win | 3. | 29 March 1999 | Miami, United States | Hard | Sandon Stolle
|
 Boris Becker Jan-Michael Gambill
|
6–1, 6–1 |
| Loss | 2. | 12 April 1999 | Chennai, India | Hard | Neville Godwin
|
 Mahesh Bhupathi Leander Paes
|
6–4, 5–7, 4–6 |
| Loss | 3. | 19 April 1999 | Tokyo, Japan | Hard | Brian MacPhie
|
Jeff Tarango  Daniel Vacek
|
3–4, RET. |
| Loss | 4. | 31 January 2000 | Australian Open, Melbourne | Hard | Andrew Kratzmann
|
Ellis Ferreira Rick Leach
|
4–6, 6–3, 3–6, 6–3, 16–18 |
| Win | 4. | 9 October 2000 | Hong Kong | Hard |  Kevin Ullyett
|
 Dominik Hrbatý David Prinosil
|
6–1, 6–2 |
| Win | 5. | 8 January 2001 | Chennai, India | Hard | Byron Black
|
 Barry Cowan  Mosé Navarra
|
6–4, 6–3 |
| Win | 6. | 19 February 2001 | Copenhagen, Denmark | Hard (i) | Kevin Ullyett
|
Jiří Novák David Rikl
|
6–3, 6–3 |
| Win | 7. | 9 October 2001 | U.S. Open, New York City | Hard | Kevin Ullyett
|
Donald Johnson Jared Palmer
|
7–6(11–9), 2–6, 6–3 |
| Win | 8. | 7 January 2002 | Adelaide, Australia | Hard | Kevin Ullyett
|
Bob Bryan Mike Bryan
|
7–5, 6–2 |
| Win | 9. | 4 March 2002 | San Jose, United States | Hard (i) | Kevin Ullyett
|
John-Laffnie de Jager Robbie Koenig
|
6–3, 4–6, [10–5] |
| Loss | 5. | 13 May 2002 | Rome, Italy | Clay | Kevin Ullyett
|
Martin Damm Cyril Suk
|
5–7, 5–7 |
| Win | 10. | 17 June 2002 | London/Queen's Club, England | Grass | Kevin Ullyett
|
Mahesh Bhupathi  Max Mirnyi
|
7–5, 6–3 |
| Win | 11. | 19 August 2002 | Washington, D.C., United States | Hard | Kevin Ullyett
|
Bob Bryan Mike Bryan
|
3–6, 6–3, 7–5 |
| Win | 12. | 14 October 2002 | Lyon, France | Carpet | Kevin Ullyett
|
 Mark Knowles  Daniel Nestor
|
6–4, 3–6, 7–6(7–3) |
| Win | 13. | 28 October 2002 | Stockholm, Sweden | Hard (i) | Kevin Ullyett
|
Wayne Arthurs Paul Hanley
|
6–4, 2–6, 7–6(7–4) |
| Loss | 6. | 3 March 2003 | Dubai, UAE | Hard | Kevin Ullyett
|
Leander Paes David Rikl
|
3–6, 0–6 |
| Win | 14. | 5 May 2003 | Munich, Germany | Clay | Kevin Ullyett
|
Joshua Eagle Jared Palmer
|
6–3, 7–5 |
| Loss | 7. | 6 October 2003 | Moscow, Russia | Carpet | Kevin Ullyett
|
Mahesh Bhupathi Max Mirnyi
|
3–6, 5–7 |
| Loss | 8. | 20 October 2003 | Madrid, Spain | Hard (i) | Kevin Ullyett
|
Mahesh Bhupathi Max Mirnyi
|
2–6, 6–2, 3–6 |
| Loss | 9. | 22 March 2004 | Indian Wells, United States | Hard | Kevin Ullyett
|
 Arnaud Clément Sébastien Grosjean
|
3–6, 6–4, 5–7 |
| Win | 15. | 5 April 2004 | Miami, United States | Hard | Kevin Ullyett
|
 Jonas Björkman Todd Woodbridge
|
6–2, 7–6(14–12) |
| Win | 16. | 17 May 2004 | Hamburg, Germany | Clay | Kevin Ullyett
|
Bob Bryan Mike Bryan
|
6–4, 6–2 |
| Loss | 10. | 26 July 2004 | Indianapolis, United States | Hard | Kevin Ullyett
|
Jordan Kerr Jim Thomas
|
7–6(9–7), 6–7(3–7), 3–6 |
| Loss | 11. | 8 November 2004 | Paris, France | Carpet | Kevin Ullyett
|
Jonas Björkman Todd Woodbridge
|
3–6, 4–6 |
| Loss | 12. | 22 November 2004 | Tennis Masters Cup, Houston | Hard | Kevin Ullyett
|
Bob Bryan Mike Bryan
|
6–4, 5–7, 4–6, 2–6 |
| Win | 17. | 31 January 2005 | Australian Open, Melbourne | Hard | Kevin Ullyett
|
Bob Bryan Mike Bryan
|
6–4, 6–4 |
| Loss | 13. | 4 April 2005 | Miami, United States | Hard | Kevin Ullyett
|
Jonas Björkman Max Mirnyi
|
1–6, 2–6 |
| Loss | 14. | 8 August 2005 | Washington, D.C., United States | Hard | Kevin Ullyett
|
Bob Bryan Mike Bryan
|
4–6, 2–6 |
| Win | 18. | 15 August 2005 | Montreal, Canada | Hard | Kevin Ullyett
|
 Jonathan Erlich Andy Ram
|
6–7(5–7), 6–3, 6–0 |
| Loss | 15. | 22 August 2005 | Cincinnati, United States | Hard | Kevin Ullyett
|
Jonas Björkman Max Mirnyi
|
6–7(3–7), 2–6 |
Doubles performance timeline
| W | F | SF | QF | #R | RR | Q# | DNQ | A | NH |
| Tournament | 1992 | 1993 | 1994 | 1995 | 1996 | 1997 | 1998 | 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | Career SR | Career win–loss | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grand Slam tournaments | ||||||||||||||||||
| Australian Open | A | A | A | A | 1R | A | 2R | 3R | F | QF | QF | 3R | QF | W | A | 1 / 9 | 25–8 | |
| French Open | A | A | A | A | 1R | 3R | 3R | 3R | 2R | 3R | 3R | 2R | QF | 1R | A | 0 / 10 | 15–10 | |
| Wimbledon | A | A | A | A | 1R | SF | SF | QF | 1R | 1R | 2R | 3R | QF | SF | 1R | 0 / 11 | 21–11 | |
| U.S. Open | A | A | A | A | A | SF | 1R | QF | 1R | W | QF | 3R | QF | SF | A | 1 / 9 | 25–8 | |
| Grand Slam SR | 0 / 0 | 0 / 0 | 0 / 0 | 0 / 0 | 0 / 3 | 0 / 3 | 0 / 4 | 0 / 4 | 0 / 4 | 1 / 4 | 0 / 4 | 0 / 4 | 0 / 4 | 1 / 4 | 0 / 1 | 2 / 39 | N/A | |
| Annual win–loss | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–3 | 10–3 | 7–4 | 10–4 | 6–4 | 11–3 | 9–4 | 7–4 | 12–4 | 14–3 | 0–1 | 0–0 | 86–37 | |
| Masters Series | ||||||||||||||||||
| Indian Wells | A | A | 1R | A | A | A | 1R | W | 2R | 1R | QF | A | F | QF | A | 1 / 8 | 14–7 | |
| Miami | A | A | A | A | A | A | 3R | W | 2R | 3R | 3R | 2R | W | F | A | 2 / 8 | 18–6 | |
| Monte Carlo | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | 0 / 0 | 0–0 | |
| Rome | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | 1R | 1R | 1R | F | 2R | QF | 2R | A | 0 / 7 | 5–7 | |
| Hamburg | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | 1R | 2R | 1R | 2R | W | 2R | A | 1 / 6 | 5–5 | |
| Canada | A | A | A | A | A | A | QF | 2R | A | 2R | 2R | 1R | 2R | W | A | 1 / 7 | 8–6 | |
| Cincinnati | A | A | A | 2R | A | A | QF | QF | 1R | 1R | 2R | 1R | 2R | F | A | 0 / 9 | 8–9 | |
| Madrid (Stuttgart) | A | A | A | A | A | 2R | A | A | A | 2R | 2R | F | A | SF | A | 0 / 5 | 6–5 | |
| Paris | A | A | A | 1R | A | 1R | 1R | 2R | A | SF | 2R | QF | F | SF | A | 0 / 9 | 8–9 | |
| Masters Series SR | 0 / 0 | 0 / 0 | 0 / 1 | 0 / 2 | 0 / 0 | 0 / 2 | 0 / 5 | 2 / 6 | 0 / 5 | 0 / 8 | 0 / 8 | 0 / 7 | 2 / 7 | 1 / 8 | 0 / 0 | 5 / 59 | N/A | |
| Annual win–loss | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–1 | 1–2 | 0–0 | 1–2 | 5–5 | 11–4 | 1–5 | 5–8 | 9–8 | 5–7 | 17–5 | 17–7 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 72–54 | |
| Year-end ranking | 541 | 1056 | 302 | 146 | 158 | 38 | 46 | 14 | 42 | 12 | 13 | 23 | 8 | 5 | 576 | N/A | ||
References
- ^ a b "Wayne Black Tennis Player Profile | ITF". www.itftennis.com. Retrieved 19 October 2023.
- ^ a b c Madzokere, Munyaradzi (17 August 2016). "Wayne Black reveals biggest regret". The Standard. Retrieved 18 November 2022.
- ^ Amos, Stuart (30 August 2007). "Sutton eye national tennis title". Sutton & Croydon Guardian. Retrieved 18 November 2022.
