Bjorn Borg Biography

Birth Name : Björn Rune Borg

Date of Birth : 6 June 1956, Södertälje, Stockholms län, Sweden

Height : 5' 10¾" (1.80 m)

Nationality: Swedish

Career: Professional tennis player

Bjorn Rune Borg was born on June 6, 1956, in Sodertalje, Sweden. He grew up in this small town near Stockholm. He was interested in the game of tennis since his childhood days. Borg was fascinated by a golden tennis racquet that his father had won in a table-tennis tournament. His father gave him the racquet, with which he would play all day long.

At the age of 14, Borg left school so that he could devote his whole time to the game of tennis. When he was just 15 years of age, Borg became one of the youngest players ever to represent his country in the Davis Cup. He went on to win the debut singles in five sets against the professional Onny Parun, of New Zealand.

In 1980, he faced John McEnroe in the Wimbledon final, which many deem to be the best ever, due to the duel that occurred. After losing the first set, Borg managed to win the next two and had two Championship points during the fourth. McEnroe then managed to level the game, leading to a tie-break situation in which he stopped five match points. Borg finally won his fifth Wimbledon title.

However, on January, 1983, Borg announced his retirement from the game; at that time he was just 26 years of age. It came as an absolute shock to the whole of tennis world. After he retired, he became a drug addict. As a result of a drug overdose, he even attempted suicide. But, he bounced back later with Björn Borg fashion level.

Of course Federer is still active and can add more majors to his record. The major difference is that Borg, except for a short comeback in the 1990s retired basically at the age of 25 while Sampras played into his thirties and Emerson played into his forties.

Awards :

Borg was ranked the World No. 1 in six different stretches between 1977 and 1981, totaling 109 weeks.

Tennis commentators considered him as the best player from 1977 through 1980.

Borg won the BBC Sports Personality of the Year Overseas Personality Award in 1979.

Borg was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in 1987.

On December 10, 2006, the British Broadcasting Corporation gave Borg a Lifetime Achievement Award, which was presented by Boris Becker.