A uncommon Bjorn Borg interview: Saying goodbye to Laver Cup, retiring at 26 and watching his son Leo

All these years later, Bjorn Borg is getting one other likelihood to make a correct exit.

It didn’t go nice the final time round. For these not aware of one of many extra infamous tennis walk-offs, after Borg misplaced within the U.S. Open ultimate towards John McEnroe in 1981 – his third consecutive loss to McEnroe in a Slam ultimate – he grabbed his bag, headed for the tunnel, barely stopped within the locker room as he grabbed his automotive keys, then headed to the car parking zone and drove off, leaving everybody a bit baffled in the course of the trophy ceremony as to why the finalist was not there.

And that was mainly it, apart from two very abbreviated comeback makes an attempt. The 11-time Grand Slam winner by no means performed one other Grand Slam match. He was basically completed. In January 1983, on the age of 26, he retired from tennis.

He made transient (and unsuccessful) makes an attempt at comebacks within the early Nineteen Nineties, however for many years Borg was just about off the tennis grid. After which, lastly, there he was on the sidelines as soon as once more seven years in the past, teaching Workforce Europe within the Laver Cup, Roger Federer’s try and create a tennis model of the Ryder Cup. McEnroe coached Workforce World, which was form of good.

Borg and McEnroe are stepping away from their Laver Cup roles after this yr. Andre Agassi and Yannick Noah will exchange them. Together with his ultimate Laver Cup gig approaching this weekend in Berlin (September 20-22), Borg was motivated to grant a uncommon interview about his post-tennis life, the event of his son, Leo, into a professional, and what the hobnobbing with one of the best gamers of this period has meant to him.

“So lovely,” he stated throughout a cellphone interview final month whereas he was on trip in Ibiza, which is about as Borg because it will get, proper?

This interview has been edited for size and high quality.

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The Athletic: So many nice gamers out of your period grew to become coaches, however you by no means actually did, aside from the Laver Cup. Why?

Borg: I by no means had an curiosity. All of the journey. Sweden even requested me to be the Davis Cup captain. I stated no. That was not my factor both. To be the coach of Workforce Europe although, I believed that was a giant duty. And my buddy Roger Federer requested me. It’s a particular occasion in any yr.

The Athletic: Why did you give up taking part in so younger? Have been you sad? I ask as a result of these days there are plenty of sad gamers who cease at a younger age and on reflection, you type of appear to be perhaps you have been the canary within the coal mine.

Borg: I used to be very pleased as a participant, however the motivation was not there. In the event you don’t have the motivation to observe and compete each day, you may’t concentrate on what you do and what you could do. I used to be pleased, however I had no motivation and no focus. After I got here again briefly, that was a distinct story.

I’m writing a e-book. I’m going to inform everybody all about it subsequent yr.

The Athletic: What have you ever discovered about how tennis has modified from being across the gamers in the course of the Laver Cup?

Borg: We have now two dinners in the course of the week and it’s the most particular time. We do it to get the staff bonded. They ask me about what the tour was like once I was taking part in and the way I went about my life and we inform one another the tales of our lives. And I hearken to what they inform me and actually what I be taught is they aren’t too totally different from me. They’re tennis gamers. What we did is form of the identical factor as what they do.

The Athletic: However the world has modified, hasn’t it?

Borg: They hit the ball more durable. It’s rather more grueling to play the best way they do. There’s additionally the TV facet to it. They’re large stars. Tennis has turn into one of many largest sports activities on this planet and so they have a giant duty. They must encourage individuals and promote the game. It’s totally different than in case you are a star in soccer. You don’t have to advertise your sport. But when we speak about their fame, then they should be doing an excellent job. All of them perceive that nobody participant is larger than the game itself.

The Athletic: From what they inform you throughout these Laver Cup dinners, what do you assume is the largest distinction between their lives and yours?

Borg: They’ve the large groups round them and these individuals are doing an unimaginable job. I did OK, even when I ended too early, however I by no means had that large staff of individuals to go world wide with that makes you are feeling so supported.

I used to be the primary one who actually traveled with a coach. At this time everybody has a coach and a physio and all these different individuals. Tennis, it’s such a demanding sport. It’s actually powerful since you are mainly on the market by your self. So you actually need that.

The Athletic: Is that what you look ahead to with being the coach of Workforce Europe, to assist present that assist?

Borg: I’m going to have nice gamers in Berlin. I need to win. It’s my final yr. I misplaced the final two years. I need to win once more, however I don’t know, Workforce World is excellent. John McEnroe and I are good buddies, however he needs to win, too. We have now at all times loved being aggressive. We have been such large rivals and when he’s teaching we’re nonetheless very aggressive. To see him now’s so particular. We maintain involved, however to see him is one thing else.

The Athletic: Did it hassle you the best way he behaved on the court docket?

Borg: Once we performed, he was at all times OK. Trying again, he by no means did a lot with me. We revered one another an excessive amount of, I feel, each on and off the court docket.

The Athletic: What trendy participant reminds you of you?

Borg: I grew up on clay. Nadal grew up on clay. He’s the one. To see him play on clay courts, it’s so improbable. He’s unbelievable. I can relate to how he is aware of the best way to transfer gamers across the court docket.

The Athletic: Chris Evert says she was scared to speak to you whenever you have been a participant since you have been this silent star, however now when she sees you, you’re very chatty. Have you ever modified?

Borg: Chris is an excellent buddy. We began one thing collectively. We have been two large stars. We lifted tennis to a distinct stage. I’m very pleased and proud to have completed that. Then those that got here after us lifted it extra. Federer, Nadal, Novak, the Williams sisters. However we have been there in the beginning.

The Athletic: Your son Leo is making an attempt to interrupt via on the professional tour. Do you coach him?

Borg: I assist him, however I don’t coach him. He is aware of he can come to me at any time when he needs. He has an entire staff round him. He lives in Stockholm. I stay in Stockholm. He comes by. We speak.

The Athletic: Is it more durable to play a match or watch him play?

Borg: Ask any mum or dad. You get extra nervous watching your baby play. I observe his matches. He feels plenty of strain. He’s my son. He’s beginning to carry out a lot better, I feel. I do love to observe him, although. It’s simply onerous as a result of, as a mum or dad, you haven’t any management. If you end up on the court docket, you will have some management. In some methods, it’s simpler to be on the sofa watching on tv. It’s a lot worse watching in individual.

The Athletic: It looks like Christian and Casper Ruud have coach-player factor going and he doesn’t look very nervous. Are you certain you don’t need to give it a shot?

Borg: The Ruuds are my good buddies. Belief me, Christian will get nervous, too.

(High picture: Clive Brunskill/Getty Photos for Laver Cup)