Borg vs. McEnroe: The battle of rivals who became friends

Borg and McEnroe: How rivals became friends

BERLIN—The 1980 Wimbledon final between Björn Borg and John McEnroe is still remembered more than 40 years later - just like the rivalry between the two tennis legends. The Swede Borg was a player who appeared calm and level-headed on the tennis court and whose emotions were impossible to interpret. Easy to see why he was nicknamed ‘Ice Borg’.

The American McEnroe was the complete opposite of his arch-enemy: loud, cheeky and not afraid of confrontation with his opponent or the officials. Hence his nickname: ‘Superbrat’, which summed up his rebellious nature.

The two played out their rivalry on the tennis court, battling to prove themselves through their unique matches. When McEnroe lost that epic Wimbledon final to his nemesis, he was more than dejected. Nevertheless, he mourned Borg's retirement three years later: ‘When you lose your greatest opponent, you also lose a part of yourself,’ said the American at the time.

To look on the other side of the court and see my biggest rival and great friend Björn Borg [...], that's very hard for me to beat!

For seven years now, Borg and McEnroe have once again had the opportunity to contest their duel, namely at the Laver Cup. Borg is the captain of Team Europe and McEnroe is in charge of Team World. They may not be the ones fighting on court, but they’re still the ones pulling the strings. However, their rivalry looks different today. The two have got to know and love each other off the court and now enjoy their time together.

‘To look across the court and see my biggest rival and great friend Björn Borg [...] it's very hard for me to beat,’ said McEnroe one day before the seventh meeting between Team World and Team Europe at the Laver Cup 2024 in Berlin.

With this team, it's impossible to lose!

This year is the last time that Borg and McEnroe will be team leaders at the show competition in Berlin. From 2025, they will be replaced by Yannick Noah (for Team Europe) and Andre Agassi (for Team World). After two consecutive defeats, the goals for Borg and his team are particularly ambitious, with a squad consisting of six top ten players, including Carlos Alcaraz and Alexander Zverev. “With this team, it's impossible to lose. We will win,” Borg predicts in an interview with Tennis Channel for his last Laver Cup appearance in Berlin.

When asked about Borg's prediction, McEnroe has to smile. It is the moment when the small rivalry that still exists between the two captains is reignited. “My response to him: He's been saying that for the past two years!”

Even though Borg and McEnroe will once again briefly become rivals at the Laver Cup, their emotional attitude is what connects them this year. “This whole week at the Laver Cup will be sorely missed in the future. Of course it's exhausting, but at the same time it's great,” McEnroe told Tennis Channel. “I feel great. It's my last year, so I hope to go out with a big bang,” said the American.

“Emotionally, the week at the Laver Cup is the most special for me. It's so much fun spending time with the best players in the world. We're having a great week, but the problem is we have to win,” Borg said of his departure.

However, just like McEnroe, who believes in a successful future for the team competition, it is clear he will keep an eye on the new team captains from 2025: “Yannick Noah will be a great captain. He has a lot of experience and a great knowledge of tennis. I will continue to follow the Laver Cup and try to be there live as often as possible,” said Borg.

But from Friday, September 20, the Laver Cup trophy will be the focus of both teams. Casper Ruud will play against Francisco Cerundolo in the first match of the first day at 1 p.m. at the Uber Arena in Berlin. Stefanos Tsistipas and Thanasi Kokkinakis will then face each other, before Grigor Dimitrov takes on Alejandro Tabilo. In the final doubles match, Alexander Zverev and Carlos Alcaraz are scheduled to play against Taylor Fritz and Ben Shelton.

“What I can predict: We will go out there and do our best,” McEnroe predicted unusually cautiously. His former rather quiet rival and leader of Team Europe, on the other hand, is sure of victory: ”Our time has come to win!”