The greatest Bjorn Borg – enigma with a bomb proof winning mentality Tim Lewis
about 5 years in The guardian
In our series on the best players of the past 50 years, we look at the calm Swede who won the French Open and Wimbledon back-to-back three times
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On 13 September 1981, Bjorn Borg was dismantled by John McEnroe in the US Open final. They had many classic matches; this lop-sided four-setter was not one of them. While McEnroe kissed his mother on the court in New York, Borg ducked out, escorted by seven plain-clothed police officers. He was absent from the presentation and the interviews. It is said he sneaked through the kitchens at Flushing Meadows, jumped into a Volvo and headed straight to the airport, still in his trademark Fila gear. Borg would never play another grand slam singles match. He had not long turned 25.
In a sport where it’s almost impossible to be an enigma, Borg remains one even 40 years on. Why did he quit? Why didn’t he fight – like, say, Roger Federer has done this past few years – and show he could rebuild his game, come back stronger? What demons were raging inside that beautiful head with the angelic sweep of blond hair and those tiny, cobalt eyes set just a fraction too close together? Continue reading...
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