Borg in June 1987.
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Full name | Björn Rune Borg |
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Country (sports) | Sweden |
Residence | Monte Carlo, Monaco |
Born |
, Sweden |
6 June 1956
Height | 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in) |
Turned pro | 1973 |
Retired | 4 April 1983(comeback from 1991 to 1993) |
Plays | Right-handed (two-handed backhand) |
Prize money | US$ 3,655,751 |
Int. Tennis HoF | 1987 (member page) |
Singles | |
Career record | 609–127 (82.74%) |
Career titles | 64 |
Highest ranking | No. 1 (23 August 1977) |
Grand Slam Singles results | |
Australian Open | 3R (1974) |
French Open | W (1974, 1975, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1981) |
Wimbledon | W (1976, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1980) |
US Open | F (1976, 1978, 1980, 1981) |
Other tournaments | |
Tour Finals | W (1979, 1980) |
WCT Finals | W (1976) |
Doubles | |
Career record | 86–81 (51.2%) |
Career titles | 4 |
Grand Slam Doubles results | |
Australian Open | 3R (1973) |
French Open | SF (1974, 1975) |
Wimbledon | 3R (1976) |
US Open | 3R (1975) |
Team competitions | |
Davis Cup | W (1975) |
Björn Rune Borg (Swedish pronunciation: [bjœːɳ bɔrj]; born 6 June 1956) is a Swedish former world No. 1 tennis player widely considered to be one of the greatest in tennis history. Between 1974 and 1981 he became the first male professional to win 11 Grand Slam open era singles titles: six at the French Open and five consecutive at Wimbledon. He also won three year-end championships and 15 Grand Prix Super Series titles.
Borg set numerous Open Era records that still stand, including winning 41% of the Grand Slam singles tournaments he entered and 90% of those matches, winning both the French Open and Wimbledon for three consecutive years, and winning three Grand Slams without losing a set. Also, his total career match win rate of 82.74% remains in the top two of the era.
A teenage sensation at the start of his career, Borg's unprecedented stardom and consistent success helped propel the rising popularity of tennis during the 1970s. As a result, the professional tour became more lucrative, and in 1979 he was the first player to earn more than one million dollars in prize money in a single season. He also made millions in endorsements throughout his career. The downside, however, was the constant attention and pressure eventually caused burnout and his retirement at the age of 26.
Björn Borg was born in , Sweden, on 6 June 1956, as the only child of Rune and Margaretha Borg. He grew up in nearby Södertälje. As a child, Borg became fascinated with a golden tennis racket that his father won at a table-tennis tournament. His father gave him the racket, beginning his tennis career.