Byron Black (2015) - USC Athletics Hall of Fame

Byron Black

Induction:
2015
Class:
1991

Byron Black, who hit a double-handed forehand, led USC to its first men’s tennis NCAA championship in 15 years when he did so as a senior in 1991. The four-year (1988-91) All-American, including in both singles and doubles his last three seasons, played in Troy’s No. 1 singles and doubles slots. He teamed with Eric Amend in 1989 to win the NCAA doubles crown. After USC, he had a successful pro career, winning twice in singles and 22 times in doubles. He captured the 1994 French Open doubles title and was ranked No. 1 in the world in doubles that year. He also was a doubles finalist in three other majors (1994 and 2001 Australian Open and 1996 Wimbledon), and he was a singles quarterfinalist at both Wimbledon and the U.S. Open. He represented his native Zimbabwe in singles and doubles at the 1996 Olympics and joined with his brother, Wayne (also a USC Athletic Hall of Famer), who succeeded him at USC, on numerous Zimbabwe Davis Cup teams, including in the 1998 upset of Australia. After retiring from competitive tennis in 2002, he became a real estate developer in South Africa.