‘I take it day by day’: Swedish great Bjorn Borg says he is fighting cancer

LONDON – Swedish tennis icon Bjorn Borg said he has been diagnosed with an aggressive form of prostate cancer and will “fight every day like it’s a Wimbledon final”.

The 11-time Grand Slam champion disclosed his diagnosis in his autobiography Heartbeats: A Memoir, co-written with wife Patricia, saying he underwent surgery in 2024 and is now in remission.

Borg won five successive Wimbledon titles from 1976 to 1980, as well as six French Open crowns, but stunned the sporting world by retiring at the age of 25.

“I spoke to the doctor and he said this is really, really bad,” the 69-year-old told the BBC.

“He said you have these sleeping cancer cells, it’s going to be a fight in the future. Every six months I go and test myself. I did my last test two weeks ago. It’s a thing I have to live with.”

Borg said doctors discovered the cancer in 2023 despite years of regular check-ups.

“The thing is that you don’t feel anything – you feel good, and then it’s just happened,” said the Swede, who held the world No. 1 ranking for 109 weeks. “I hope that I’m going to be OK. I take it day by day, year by year, hopefully.”

Although Borg attempted a brief comeback in 1991 at age 34, he failed to make a mark on the circuit.

During his prime, Borg shared an intense rivalry with John McEnroe and their battle in the 1980 Wimbledon final is considered one of the greatest tennis matches. The American won the fourth set tiebreak 18-16 before Borg went on to win the five-set epic.

“Now I have a new opponent in cancer – one I can’t control,” Borg wrote in his book.

“But I’m going to beat it. I’m not giving up. I fight like every day is a Wimbledon final. And those usually go pretty well, don’t they?”

On the court, the United States stayed on course for a record-extending 19th Billie Jean King Cup crown after Taylor Townsend and Jessica Pegula won the doubles decider to edge out Kazakhstan 2-1 in their quarter-final in Shenzhen on Sept 18.

The tie hung in the balance after American Emma Navarro had dramatically saved two match points to outlast Yulia Putintseva 7-5, 2-6, 7-6 (8-6), only for an aggressive Elena Rybakina to level matters by dismantling world No. 7 Pegula 6-4, 6-1.

Kazakhstan, eyeing their first final appearance, then rolled the dice by selecting Rybakina and Putintseva for the decisive doubles clash. But the Americans – spearheaded by doubles world No. 1 Townsend – had other plans when skipper Lindsay Davenport teamed her up with Pegula.

The US pair stared down three break points at 0-40 in their opening service game, but managed to hold serve before seizing control.

While Pegula patrolled the baseline, Townsend proved clinical at the net as both Rybakina and Putintseva dropped serve, helping the Americans pocket the first set.

Although Kazakhstan struck first in the second with an early break, the US broke back immediately and forced a tiebreak, which they dominated to seal a 6-2, 7-6 (7-1) victory.

“I haven’t played with Taylor in such a long time, so that was fun to get back playing with her,” said Pegula, a former doubles world No. 1.

“I always love playing with a lefty. Makes my life a lot easier. I think our games complement each other really well. She’s an amazing doubles player. She could probably play with anybody.”

The US face Britain, who beat Japan 2-0, in the semi-finals. Defending champions Italy eliminated hosts China and meet Ukraine in the other semi-final. REUTERS