One of Most Iconic Figures in Tennis History, Björn Borg, Reveals Battle With Aggressive Prostate Cancer

Swedish tennis legend Björn Borg received a diagnosis of an aggressive form of prostate cancer and stressed that he’ll “fight every day like it’s a Wimbledon final”.

Swedish tennis legend Björn Borg has disclosed that he has been diagnosed with an “extremely aggressive” form of prostate cancer. The 11-time Grand Slam winner revealed the news in the final chapter of his new autobiography “Heartbeats”, co-written with his wife Patricia.

Diagnosis, Treatment, and Remission

Borg says the cancer was first detected in 2023, though he didn’t initially show symptoms. In 2024, he underwent surgery to remove the prostate, addressing the cancer’s aggressive nature. As of now, Borg is in remission, with recent tests showing no current signs of the disease.

However, he emphasizes that the cancer remains a serious challenge — he refers to “sleeping cancer cells” that could pose a future risk. To monitor his condition, he undergoes medical check-ups every six months.

Champion’s Mindset: Tennis Comparisons, Mental Struggles

Borg has drawn a parallel between his fight with cancer and his greatest battles on the court. He says he’ll “fight every day like it’s a Wimbledon final.” Such resolve, he explains, reflects his competitive nature during his peak as a professional player.

In “Heartbeats”, he also delves into past personal struggles, including panic attacks and substance abuse in the years following his early retirement from tennis. These revelations contribute to what Borg describes as a difficult psychological journey — coping with fame, the end of his career, and now the anxiety and uncertainty of living with cancer.

Looking Forward: Living “Day by Day”

Despite the seriousness of the diagnosis, Borg says he is feeling well today. He underscores the importance of staying present — “day by day, year by year” — accepting what he can’t control, and focusing on what he can.

The memoir “Heartbeats” is serving as the vehicle for Borg’s full story — both the triumphs on the tennis court and the struggles that followed. He hopes that his openness will also encourage awareness around prostate cancer, early detection, and the mental toll illness can bring.

Borg’s Significance to Tennis

Borg wasn’t only one of the greatest champions in tennis history but also a cultural icon whose influence extended beyond sport. His combination of dominance, early retirement, and charismatic rivalries made him one of the legends of the game.

He emerged as a teenage sensation, winning the 1972 Junior Wimbledon title at just 15. By 1974, at 18 years old, he had already claimed his first Grand Slam title at the French Open, becoming the youngest champion at the time.

Borg won 11 Grand Slam singles titles between 1974 and 1981:

• French Open: 6 titles (1974, 1975, 1978–1981).
• Wimbledon: 5 consecutive titles (1976–1980)

He was the first man in the Open Era to win both the French Open and Wimbledon back-to-back in the same year (1978–1980). Known for his two-handed backhand and heavy topspin from the baseline, which revolutionized modern tennis, he was called the “Ice Man” for his calm demeanor. The Borg vs. McEnroe rivalry in the late 1970s and early 1980s was one of the most famous in sports history, especially their epic 1980 Wimbledon final, often cited as the greatest match ever at the time.

He was World No. 1 for a total of 109 weeks between 1977 and 1981, winning 64 career titles before retiring prematurely at age 26. Borg achieved a career match-winning percentage of 82.4%, still one of the highest in the Open Era. He retired suddenly in 1983 at only 26 years old, shocking the tennis world, and was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in 1987. He’s often credited with helping turn tennis into a truly global sport, attracting fans to the stands and into tennis online betting sites’ forerunners, land-based betting shops that had tennis market offerings, paving the way for stars like Sampras, Federer, Nadal, and Djoković.

Beyond the court, Borg became a global celebrity and a fashion icon, launching the “Björn Borg” clothing brand.