Bjorn Borg is preparing to lead Team Europe at the Laver Cup for the final time, but the Swede took time in a recent interview to reflect on why he retired at age 26.
It has been 50 years since Borg, who is unconcerned by Rafael Nadal's records, won his first Grand Slam title at the 1974 French Open. The passing of time has not made fans forget what a legend the 68-year-old is and how much he means to tennis.
Borg's rivalry with John McEnroe is still considered one of the greatest in the sport's history. The 1980 Wimbledon final, which Borg won in five sets, is one of the best Grand Slam finals ever played, including an iconic tiebreak McEnroe won 18-16.
The American got his revenge by beating Borg at Wimbledon the following year and in the 1980 and 1981 US Open finals. Their rivalry during their playing days made the pair excellent choices as Laver Cup captains.
However, this will be Borg and McEnroe's final year in their roles. Andre Agassi will take over as Team World's captain in 2025, and Yannick Noah is set to replace Borg as the captain of Team Europe.
It is great that Borg remains actively involved in the sport. His 11 Grand Slam titles make him one of the biggest legends in tennis history. The sport is always better when the greats are visible on and off the court.
But Borg could have been an even more significant figure if he did not shock tennis fans worldwide by retiring at age 26. McEnroe, who enjoyed a good relationship with Borg despite their rivalry, tried to persuade him to continue.
Borg unsuccessfully attempted to return to the sport afterward. Some wondered whether the Swede regretted retiring when he remained near the top of the game and could have won more Grand Slam titles.
The former world No. 1 spoke about that topic in an interview with the Athletic, saying that although he was still happy, he did not have the motivation or focus to commit and train to the level needed to challenge for the most significant honors.
"I was very happy as a player, but the motivation was not there. If you don’t have the motivation to practice and compete every day, you can’t focus on what you do and what you need to do. I was happy, but I had no motivation and no focus. When I came back briefly, that was a different story."
That is a refreshingly honest admission from Borg. He was known for his ice-cool persona on the court during his playing days, meaning his struggles to stay motivated would not have been apparent to fans watching him play during that period.
Borg also shared exciting news during that interview. He plans to elaborate further on his decision to retire and his career as a whole in a book he is writing, which is due for release next year. When it is released, that work will be a must-read for ardent tennis fans.
"I’m writing a book. I’m going to tell everyone all about it next year."
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