Bjorn Borg Opens Up on Cancer Battle and Life After Tennis
Tennis great Bjorn Borg has revealed he is living “day by day, year by year” after being diagnosed with an “extremely aggressive” prostate cancer.
The 69-year-old shared the news in the final chapter of his autobiography Heartbeats: A Memoir, explaining that doctors told him the illness was already at its most advanced stage. Borg said he resolved to “fight every day like it’s a Wimbledon final.”
The former world number one underwent surgery in 2024 and is now in remission, but admitted the psychological toll has been immense.
“I spoke to the doctor and he said this is really, really bad,” Borg told BBC Breakfast. “You have these sleeping cancer cells, and it’s going to be a fight in the future. Every six months I go for tests. It’s something I must live with.”
From Wimbledon Glory to Early Retirement
Borg, nicknamed the “Ice Man” for his calm on-court demeanor, was one of tennis’s brightest stars in the 1970s and early 1980s. He claimed 11 Grand Slam titles, including five consecutive Wimbledon crowns (1976–80) and six French Opens (1974–81), before stunning the tennis world by retiring at just 25.
His epic 1980 Wimbledon final against John McEnroe, in which the American saved seven championship points before Borg prevailed, is still regarded as one of the greatest matches ever played.
“That final was the most satisfying match I ever played. It had everything,” Borg recalled.
Borg and McEnroe’s contrasting personalities gave rise to one of sport’s most famous rivalries, dubbed “Fire and Ice.” McEnroe ended Borg’s Wimbledon reign in 1981 and beat him again in the US Open final that same year, after which the Swede walked away from the sport.
Although fierce competitors in their playing days, Borg says the rivalry has long since given way to friendship.
“We respected each other a lot. We were fighting to be the best in the world. You cannot be best friends then. But now, John and I are very good friends. We see each other, we go for dinner, we talk about today’s tennis — never about the old matches.”
Struggles After Tennis
Borg admits life after retirement was far from smooth. With no clear plan after leaving tennis, he fell into a destructive lifestyle.
“I had no plan. People today have guidance. I was lost in the world,” he said. “There were drugs, pills, alcohol — to escape from reality. Of course it’s not good, it destroys you as a person.”
He was hospitalized in Milan in 1989 after an overdose, a wake-up call that forced him to confront his downward spiral. Borg attempted a comeback between 1991 and 1993 but failed to win a match.
“I was close to dying many times,” he admitted. “But I fixed my life. I’m very happy with myself.”
A Lasting Legacy
Despite his struggles, Borg’s impact on tennis remains unmatched. He won 66 singles titles, spent 109 weeks as world number one, and holds a record of 41 consecutive wins at Wimbledon.
Now, as he battles his toughest opponent yet, Borg says he is focused on living in the moment.
“It’s something I will always have to manage. But I’m at peace, and I’m grateful for where I am today.”
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