Karnataka Chief Minister Bommai was only able to arrive at 11.10 a.m. due to other official responsibilities, therefore he was unable to celebrate Borg and Amritraj at 9.30 a.m.
Borg and time are impatient. In just 21 attempts, the renowned Swede won his 11 Grand Slam singles titles at a dizzying pace. And while John McEnroe was hoisting the trophy at the 1981 US Open, he drove out of the stadium after losing his final Major final.
Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai had a taste of this on Tuesday before the KSLTA courts. Owing to other official obligations, Bommai was only able to come at 11.10 a.m. in order to celebrate Borg and India’s very own Vijay Amritraj at 9.30 a.m. on the sidelines of the Bengaluru Open ATP Challenger.
By then, Borg had left to watch his son Leo play his first-round match at 11 a.m., having maybe reconnoitered the felicitation area twice earlier in the hopes that the celebration would get underway soon.
After that, Bommai watched the proceedings from the VIP area for a while, even though Borg—always his own man—and his wife Patricia were seated at the opposite end. Even after Bommai left the VIP section, the six-time French Open and five-time Wimbledon champion remained unwavering.
It’s hard to be mysterious in politics or sports. Forty years ago, Borg was one. Even now, he is still one.
