Borg–McEnroe rivalry

The Borg–McEnroe rivalry was a tennis rivalry between Björn Borg and John McEnroe, who met 14 times on the regular tour and 22 times in total between November 1978 and April 1981. Their head-to-head was even at 7–7.[1] Their on-court rivalry was highlighted by their contrasting temperaments and playing styles: the Swede Borg was known for his cool and emotionless demeanor on court, while the American McEnroe was famed for his court-side tantrums.[2] Because of this, their rivalry was described as "Fire and Ice".[3]

This article is about the rivalry. For the 2017 film, see Borg vs McEnroe.
John McEnroe (7 Major singles titles, world No.1 for 170 weeks; pictured in 2012)
Björn Borg (11 Major singles titles, world No.1 for 109 weeks; pictured in 1991)

In 1980 McEnroe reached the singles final at Wimbledon for the first time, where he faced Borg, who was aiming for an Open Era record fifth consecutive Wimbledon title. At the start of the final McEnroe was booed by the crowd as he entered Centre Court following his heated exchanges with officials during his semi-final clash with Jimmy Connors. In a fourth set tie-breaker that lasted 20 minutes, McEnroe saved five match points (seven altogether in that set) and eventually won 18–16. However, he was unable to break Borg's serve in the fifth set and Borg went on to win 8–6. This match is widely considered one of the best tennis matches ever played. McEnroe defeated Borg at the US Open final the same year in five sets.

In 1981 McEnroe returned to Wimbledon and again faced Borg in the singles final. This time it was the American who prevailed and defeated Borg to end the Swede's run of 41 straight match victories at the All England Club. At the US Open in the same season, McEnroe was again victorious, winning in four sets, afterwards Borg walked off the court and out of the stadium before the ceremonies and press conference had begun.[4] Borg retired shortly afterwards, having never won the US Open despite reaching four finals. Their final confrontation came in 1983 in Tokyo at the Suntory Cup (invitational tournament), with Borg prevailing in three sets.

After their retirements, Borg and McEnroe grew a more friendly relationship. In March 2006, when Bonhams Auction House in London announced that it would auction Borg's Wimbledon trophies and two of his winning rackets on 21 June 2006, McEnroe called from New York and told Borg, "What's up? Have you gone mad?" The conversation with McEnroe, along with pleas from Jimmy Connors and Andre Agassi, eventually persuaded Borg to buy out the trophies from Bonhams at an undisclosed amount.[5][6]

Head-to-head
Legend Borg McEnroe
Grand Slam 1 3
Masters Grand Prix 2 0
WCT Finals 0 1
ATP International Series 4 3
Total 7 7

Official matches (14)

Borg 7 – McEnroe 7

No. Date Tournament Surface Round Winner Score Borg McEnroe
1. Nov 1978 Stockholm Open Hard (i) Semifinals McEnroe 6–3, 6–4 0 1
2. Feb 1979 Richmond WCT Carpet Semifinals Borg 4–6, 7–6(10–8), 6–3 1 1
3. Mar 1979 New Orleans Grand Prix Carpet Semifinals McEnroe 5–7, 6–1, 7–6(8–6) 1 2
4. Apr 1979 Rotterdam Open Carpet Final Borg 6–4, 6–2 2 2
5. May 1979 WCT Finals Carpet Final McEnroe 7–5, 4–6, 6–2, 7–6(7–5) 2 3
6. Aug 1979 Canadian Open Hard Final Borg 6–3, 6–3 3 3
7. Jan 1980 Masters Grand Prix Carpet Semifinals Borg 6–7(5–7), 6–3, 7–6(7–1) 4 3
8. Jul 1980 Wimbledon Grass Final Borg 1–6, 7–5, 6–3, 6–7(16–18), 8–6 5 3
9. Sep 1980 US Open Hard Final McEnroe 7–6(7–4), 6–1, 6–7(5–7), 5–7, 6–4 5 4
10. Nov 1980 Stockholm Open Carpet Final Borg 6–3, 6–4 6 4
11. Jan 1981 Masters Grand Prix Carpet Round Robin Borg 6–4, 6–7(3–7), 7–6(7–2) 7 4
12. Mar 1981 Milan Indoor Carpet Final McEnroe 7–6(7–2), 6–4 7 5
13. Jul 1981 Wimbledon Grass Final McEnroe 4–6, 7–6(7–1), 7–6(7–4), 6–4 7 6
14. Sep 1981 US Open Hard Final McEnroe 4–6, 6–2, 6–4, 6–3 7 7

Breakdown of their rivalry
  • All matches: (14 ) Tied 7–7
  • All finals: McEnroe 5–4
    • Hard courts: McEnroe 3–1
    • Carpet courts: Borg 5–3
    • Grass courts: Tied 1–1
    • Grand Slam matches: McEnroe 3–1
    • Grand Slam finals: McEnroe 3–1
    • Masters matches: Borg 2–0
    • Masters finals: None
    • Davis Cup matches: None
    • WCT Finals matches: McEnroe 1–0

Other matches

Invitational matches

Borg–McEnroe (4–4)

No. Date Tournament Surface Round Winner Score Ref.
1. Mar 1979 Velo Tennis Cup Carpet Final Borg 3–6, 6–1, 6–4 [7]
2. Nov 1979 Brooklyn Masters Carpet Final Borg 1–6, 6–1, 6–4 [8]
3. Feb 1981 Molson Light Challenge Carpet Semifinals McEnroe 6–3, 3–6, 7–6(10–8) [9]
4. Nov 1982 Swan Lager Super Challenge Carpet Final McEnroe 6–1, 6–4 [10]
5. Nov 1982 AKAI Gold Challenge Carpet Round Robin Borg 3–6, 6–4, 7–5, 6–2 [11]
6. Nov 1982 Europe vs. Americas Challenge Carpet Round Robin McEnroe 6–3, 2–6, 6–4 [12]
7. Dec 1982 European Community Championship Carpet Semifinals McEnroe 2–6, 6–4, 6–3 [10]
8. Apr 1983 Suntory Cup Carpet Semifinals Borg 6–4, 2–6, 6–2 [13]

Exhibitions

Borg–McEnroe (2–1)

No. Date Tournament Surface Round Winner Score
1. Feb 1981 Benson & Hedges Challenge[14] Indoor – Borg 6–0, 6–4
2. Feb 1981 Benson & Hedges Challenge Indoor – Borg 6–2, 6–4
3. Feb 1981 Benson & Hedges Challenge [15] Outdoor Final McEnroe 6–4, 1–6, 7–6, 6–4

See also

References
  1. ATP Tour. "Borg-McEnroe Rivalry". Archived from the original on 9 June 2011. Retrieved 18 June 2009.
  2. "Ten great tennis rivalries". The Independent. 8 July 2008. Retrieved 8 December 2010.
  3. Phillips, B.J.; Banta, Ken (13 July 1981). "Sport: Fire and Ice at Wimbledon". Time. Archived from the original on October 15, 2010. Retrieved 26 April 2010.
  4. Cindy Shmerler (28 August 2021). "John McEnroe and Bjorn Borg: a rivalry that ended too soon". The New York Times.
  5. "Borg to auction off Wimbledon trophies". USA Today. 3 March 2006. Retrieved 20 April 2012.
  6. "McEnroe fick Borg på andra tankar". DN Sport (in Swedish). 28 March 2006. Archived from the original on 30 September 2007.
  7. "Borg tops McEnroe in Vienna tennis". The Miami News. 7 March 1979. p. 5C – via Newspapers.com. Sweden's Bjorn Borg beat American John McEnroe in the Velo Tennis Cup tournament last night 3-6, 6-, 6-4.
  8. "Borg bops naughty McEnroe". The Columbian. 30 November 1979. p. 18 – via Newspapers.com. Sweden's Bjorn Borg, the reigning king of world tennis, downed the toughest pretender to his throne, John McEnroe, in the final of Milan's Masters Indoor Tennis Tournament.
  9. John Barrett, ed. (1982). Slazengers World of Tennis 1982 : The Official Yearbook of the International Tennis Federation (14th ed.). London: Queen Anne Press. p. 236. ISBN 9780356085968.
  10. John Barrett, ed. (1983). Slazengers World of Tennis 1983 : the official yearbook of the International Tennis Federation. London: Queen Anne Press. pp. 222, 224. ISBN 0356093832.
  11. Greg Growden (8 November 1982). "Swede sounds warning to tennis world". The Sydney Morning Herald. p. 22 – via Newspapers.com. Although short on match practice, the Swede easily swept aside the others in three days, finishing with an exhilarating 3-6 6-4 7-5 6-2 win over the world No. 1, McEnroe, in the final match of the round robin series.
  12. "McEnroe outlasts Borg, but Europe leads 5-3". The Tribune. 1 December 1982. p. F-8 – via Newspapers.com. John McEnroe of the United States defeated Swede's Bjorn Borg 6-3 2-6 6-4 Tuesday night in the Europe vs. the Americas Challenge.
  13. John Barrett, ed. (1984). World of Tennis 1984 : The Official Yearbook of the International Tennis Federation. London: Willow Books. p. 257. ISBN 0002181223.
  14. "Borg Routs McEnroe By 6–0, 6–4". The New York Times. UPI. 20 February 1981.
  15. "McEnroe Salvages Victory Over Borg in Series Finale". The New York Times. UPI. 22 February 1981.
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