Bjorn Borg is widely regarded as one of the greatest tennis players in history. Between 1978 and 1980, he dominated the French Open and Wimbledon, winning both tournaments three times in a row. He finished his career with six Roland Garros titles and five consecutive Wimbledon championships—an astounding 11 Grand Slam titles by the age of 25. Yet, in a surprising turn, Borg retired from professional tennis at that very age, stepping away from the sport at the peak of his career.
In recent years, Borg has remained involved in the tennis world, most notably serving as Team Europe’s captain at the Laver Cup. He has continued to follow the game closely, especially now that his son, Leo Borg, is attempting to make his own mark in professional tennis.
Speaking to Mundo Deportivo during a visit to the Barcelona Open, Borg shared insight into his relationship with Leo and his perspective on watching his son navigate the sport. He explained that he traveled to Spain specifically to watch Leo compete in the tournament’s qualifying rounds.
“First, my son was playing in the qualifying round. And for me, this tournament has meant a lot in my life. I came here for the first time as a junior, 14 years old. I came here and played, and later returned for major tournaments many times. This is a big tournament, not just for Spaniards, but for all European players. It means a lot. And if you win, it means even more.”
Leo, currently ranked 496th in the world, lost in the first round of qualifying 5-7, 6-7(1). His ranking and recent results suggest room for improvement, and many would assume that having a father like Bjorn Borg would be an invaluable resource. But according to Bjorn, Leo prefers to figure things out on his own.
“Our son plays good tennis and travels a lot. I told him, ‘If you have any questions, you can always come to me.’ And he says, ‘You don’t understand anything about tennis.’ Fine, thank you very much. But I’m always here for him. He has a good team traveling with him, and I’ll always be available whenever he needs me.”
Bjorn also revealed that Leo didn’t grow up particularly attached to tennis. In fact, for years, it seemed he would pursue other sports altogether.
“He never watched matches with me. He played a lot of sports—soccer, ice hockey. My wife and I thought he’d stick with soccer. We didn’t think he’d play tennis because we assumed he wouldn’t want the comparisons. But one day, he told us he wanted to play tennis. So we said, ‘Alright, it’s your choice.’ And that’s how it started. Sure, the comparisons are a challenge, but he enjoys tennis, and he plays well.”
Despite Leo’s reluctance to accept guidance, Bjorn believes his experience still holds value in today’s game. While he acknowledges the game has evolved physically, he maintains that the mental side of tennis remains the same.
“The mentality in tennis hasn’t changed. The game itself is different—players hit the ball much harder now, that’s the biggest change. But the fundamentals of focus, hard work, and mental toughness are still the same. That’s where I believe I could help.”
Although Leo Borg’s path in tennis is still unfolding, it’s clear that Bjorn respects his son’s independence, even if he disagrees with his approach. The legacy of one of the sport’s greatest champions now intersects with the rise of a young player carving his own journey—on his own terms.
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