His lifestyle is characterized by a certain simplicity. Bjorn Borg leads a modest life despite having a property in Monte Carlo, an island off the coast of Sweden, and an estimated annual income of $3 million. Everything about him, including his demeanor and daily routine, has been simplified and managed to achieve a single, distinct objective.
Borg declares, “My goal is to be recognized as the greatest tennis player of all time.” The 23-year-old has repeated the surprisingly straightforward words repeatedly since leaving the eighth grade of the Blomback School in Soldertalje, Sweden, nine years ago to pursue his chosen job.
He is ranked #1 in the United States Open, which starts tomorrow, and is without a doubt the top player in the world right now. Borg has already taken home $470,867 in prize money from tournaments this year. He will most likely have received $700,000 in prize money before the year is done, in addition to $800,000 from exhibitions and $1.5 million from endorsements.
Borg appears to be concealing his emotions and life experiences behind a faltering mastery of English, speaking in an emotionless and wooden manner. The young player who is vying for the Grand Slam and has won four straight Wimbledon titles, however, might be communicating to the public what is most important about him: Borg wants to go down in history as the greatest tennis player of all time, and almost everything he has done since he first picked up a racquet at the age of nine has been geared toward that goal.
Since then, Borg’s development has continued unabated. His incomplete history:
·At the age of 14, he gave up on going to school and playing ice hockey after winning every junior competition in Sweden, the Orange Bowl, and the Wimbledon junior title.
·When he made his debut with the Swedish Davis Cup squad at Wimbledon at the age of 15, he was accosted by British schoolgirls.
·He made it to the World Championship Tennis event final and won the Italian and French opens for the first time at the age of 18. Live coverage of the Dallas match versus John Newcombe began at five in the morning on Swedish radio. At the age of 29, Newcombe remarked, “Bjorn doesn’t seem to have any nerves.”
·Borg became the most respected athlete in Sweden at the age of 19, surpassing heavyweight champion Ingemar Johansson two decades later after winning the W.C.T. title and steering Sweden to its first Davis Cup victory. In tough competitive circumstances, Borg’s mentality still trailed behind his physical prowess, and he occasionally appeared to lose up in the middle of a match. Ted Tinling, a world-renowned tennis clothing designer and former British player, said of the player, “I thought he was a bore.” Beyond his years, he exuded a serious demeanor. He pouted a lot and occasionally lost it.
·Borg became the youngest Wimbledon champion since Sidney Wood won by default in 1931 when he won the tournament for the first time at the age of 20.
“Bjorn is unique,” Mrs. Gerulaitis remarks. He truly keeps to himself and minds his own business. He never treats anyone badly. He never asks for anything, ever. He’s quite reticent. It’s imperative that you strike up a discussion with him. He’s improving, though. Last winter, we had supper with him in Miami, and he even cracked a joke.
He’s incredibly brilliant, but not too educated, according to Dr. Glick. I’m sure he would be an excellent poker or chess player. Although he doesn’t say much, what he does say is sensible and fundamental.
While Borg lacks some of his contemporaries’ glibness, he also lacks the combativeness and self-consciousness of players like John McEnroe and Connors. “Borg is a calm guy, unlike all the guys who get crazy on the court,” Tanner remarks. It’s impassive in one sense, but it’s also excellent sportsmanship in another. He has self-control skills. Perhaps self-control isn’t expected of professional players nowadays. He doesn’t brag about his abilities.
“He lets his tennis do the talking, and it’s getting pretty loud these days.”
