By Sheldon Hakata
THERE was a time in Zimbabwe when tennis was synonymous with the Black family.
This is a tennis family whose passion is firmly rooted in their love of the game.
Byron, Wayne and Cara Black did not choose the tennis journey.
Their father, Donald, initiated them since they were toddlers.
In response, the trio developed a specific interest in the sport and they are now legends of the game in Zimbabwe.
Donald was passionate about the game.
He is said to have been a regular player at the Wimbledon Tournament and was a pretty impressive player, self-taught and wanted his children to excel in tennis.
But Wayne emerged tops in the Black family.
Born on November 14 1973, he is the second in a family of three.
Byron also made a mark in international tennis, while Cara mapped the way for girls in sport to pursue their dreams.
Their illustrious careers thrust Zimbabwe onto the world map, especially through the Davis Cup tournament in the late 1990s.
Zimbabwe has participated in official Davis Cup competitions since 1963.
Byron was a prolific player; tough and competitive be it in the Davis Cup or on tour.
He had the best backhand and best return of serve.
While the Black family undoubtedly put Zimbabwe on the world map, another family, the Lock brothers, Benjamin and Courtney are on the rise.
Despite having made a mark, the country still lags behind in terms of developing tennis.
Pundits contend Government should fund junior players to expose them to professional tournaments.
Failure to host bigger tournaments means local players have to travel around the world where such tourneys are played.
Travelling costs and coaches’ fees are taking a toll on parents, who are, at times, the sole sponsors.
Most players are therefore forced into early retirement owing to the huge costs involved.
Promising players like Genius Chidzikwe, Peter Nyamande, Vusa Majola, Gwinyai Tongoona, Martin Dzuwa, Nigel Badza, and the ladies duo of Fadzai Mawisire and Fadzai Masiyazi are examples of players who never realised their full potential due to lack of playing opportunities at professional level.
Zimbabwe has failed to host the Futures Circuit; the window to professional tennis that enables young players to progress to the ATP Challenger Tour and, ultimately, the ATP World Tour.
The trio of Kevin Ulyett, Byron and Wayne Black passed through the Futures Circuit.
Hosting more Futures tournaments enables locals to compete against quality opponents in order to accumulate world ranking points.
In an interview with Patriot Sports, Wayne Black went down memory lane.
Said Black: “It all started with dad.
“He was so passionate about the game.
“We had to wake up at 5am, play tennis for an hour before going to school, 3-4pm before homework after school and later finishing with a 5-6pm session daily,” he said.
“It’s all about the time you put in and not about how talented you are.
“When I was born, there were three tennis courts at our home and by the time I was nine-or-10 years old, there were five courts. I was a bit lucky because my brother was always in front charting the way ahead.
“It gave me the courage since we came from the same background, so he laid my pathway.”
Wayne played junior tennis for Highlands Sports Club in Harare and later attended University of Southern Carolina in the US.
This gave him a chance to play on the professional stage.
Wayne, nicknamed ‘Shumba’ in the local game, looks back with pride at his achievements as a tennis player.
He says singles are difficult because: “You will all be by yourself with no one to help you and so you can let yourself down easily.”
His struggles in the singles converted him into a doubles specialist and success came in the new millennium.
According to Wayne, all the wins on the circuit were nothing compared to the fairy-tale success they achieved for the country along with Byron and Ulyet.
Wayne managed to clinch several titles during his illustrious career; chief among them, the Wimbledon Cup, US, Australian men’s doubles and French Open men’s mixed doubles playing with his sister Cara.
Wayne eventually retired from competitive tennis in 2006 with two Grand Slam doubles and 16 doubles titles on the Association of Professionals tour.
He earned US$3,3 million during his illustrious career and was ranked fourth on the world’s doubles record.
Close friend Miles MacLagan was his tennis coach.
Wayne eventually ventured into business and now owns a small hotel in Harare.
“Playing sport for a living is something very special,” said Wayne.
“Travelling around the world before 30, seeing a lot. “Tennis gave me a life, wife, Irina and kids, a boy Joseph (13) and girl Brooke (11).
“I was able to buy this place which I converted into a small hotel.”