Bjorn Borg returns to Wimbledon

The Return of the King!

It was a truly great moment to witness the return of the great Bjorn Borg to Wimbledon’s centre court. There always was and still is now, an air of mystique and intrigue surrounding the viking of tennis. The blonde hair is now greying but he still looks supremely fit.

I can remember in the late seventies being at Queens Club for the tournament - Borg never played the event but on this occassion happened to just turn up at the club. As he wandered in wearing a big fur coat the place changed instantly. The buzz swept through the club like a Mexican wave. No other player had the same impact as the ‘god’ like Borg.

His Wimbledon arrival in 1973 brought scenes normally associated with The Beatles. Never before had screaming girls run across the hallowed turf just to catch a closer glimpse of a player. The Fila striped tennis shirt, the long blonde hair, the Wimbledon stubble, the topspin and the pop star looks all became synominous with Bjorn Borg.

I was so sure that he’d win yet another Wimbledon title, that early on in the tournament I would start to wonder what he’d do when he won the championship point. Maybe he’d fall to his knees again or raise his hands to the gods.

It certainly was a sad day in 1983 when Borg decided he’d hit his last passing shot on the pro tour. (see Scoop Interview With A Shy, Retiring Star).

Even if the great Roger Federer has equalled Borg’s Wimbledon record, Borg’s ability to constantly win back-to-back French and Wimbledon titles is a record that will not easily be broken.

Welcome back Bjorn!

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