"Björn Borg" - A Swede in Paris

Who could have known?

Five Grand Slam titles at the French Open alone, four of them in a row, and 11 Grand Slam titles in total. He is one of the greatest tennis players of all time. But who could have known that Björn Borg was actually a bit scared of playing on clay?

"I was always a bit scared to play on clay," Borg said. "I was never really comfortable on it. I didn't like the way the ball bounced. It was always a bit unpredictable."

Despite his fears, Borg managed to dominate the French Open for several years. He won his first title in 1974 at the age of 18 and went on to win four more titles in a row. He also won the Wimbledon championship in 1976, 1977, 1978, and 1980.

Borg's success on clay is even more impressive when you consider that he was a natural grass-court player. He grew up playing on grass courts in Sweden and was much more comfortable on that surface. But he was able to adapt his game to clay and become one of the greatest players on that surface as well.

The Borg-McEnroe Rivalry

Björn Borg is also famous for his rivalry with John McEnroe. The two players met in the Wimbledon final in 1980, and Borg won in a five-set thriller. The match is considered one of the greatest tennis matches of all time.

Borg and McEnroe were very different players. Borg was a cool and collected player who rarely showed emotion. McEnroe, on the other hand, was a fiery and emotional player who was known for his outbursts.

Despite their differences, Borg and McEnroe respected each other. Borg said that McEnroe was "the best player I ever played against." McEnroe said that Borg was "the greatest player of all time."

Retirement

Björn Borg retired from tennis in 1983 at the age of 26. He said that he was tired of the pressure and the constant travel. He also said that he wanted to focus on his family.

Borg has been married twice and has three children. He lives in Sweden and is still involved in tennis. He is a coach and a commentator and works with the ATP Tour.