The Hindu : Sport : Borg tips Nadal to win at Wimbledon

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Borg tips Nadal to win at Wimbledon

The legendary Swede picks Djokovic as the second choice

— Photo: AFP

DOWN MEMORY LANE: Tennis connoisseurs were treated to this iconic image for five successive years when the great Bjorn Borg ruled at Wimbledon. Borg is now a benchmark against which Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal are measured.

LONDON: For Bjorn Borg, there’s no escaping a legacy which yielded 11 Grand Slam titles, countless riches as well as heartbreak in his private life.

But the Swede, whose post-tennis traumas featured two divorces and a costly business disaster, has found that the pulsating rivalry between Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal has helped rekindle his love affair with the sport.

Almost 30 years since his last Wimbledon win, Borg, the master of a generation which boasted wooden racquets, tight shorts and headbands, is now a benchmark against which Federer and Nadal are measured.

Twelve months ago, Federer pulled level with Borg as a five-in-a-row winner of the Wimbledon men’s singles title and is now bidding to become the only man to win a sixth successive trophy.

Less than two weeks ago, Nadal equalled the Swede’s record as a four-in-a-row champion at Roland Garros.

Now the Spaniard is attempting to be the first man since Borg in 1980 to win the French Open and Wimbledon back-to-back.

“You have this rivalry between players. It was the same when me and John McEnroe played, or Sampras and Agassi and Edberg and Becker,” said Borg.

“But Nadal and Federer, it’s two different styles, two different people and they always produce good tennis. They are two unbelievable players, and they produce good tennis, great points, and that’s what we like to see.

“It’s the same when they played the Wimbledon final last year. It was an unbelievable final.”

Federer third favourite

However, Borg believes Federer is only third favourite to win at Wimbledon this year. The Swede also said he would not be surprised if Federer chooses to retire next year.

“I pick Rafael Nadal as winner and my second choice is Novak Djokovic, my third is Roger,” Borg was quoted by the media.

Retirement plans

“I wouldn’t be at all surprised if Roger came out next year and said: “I’m not going to play tennis any more,” Borg added.

“It probably won’t happen but if Roger decides to retire that wouldn’t shock me at all. People expect him to win all the time and that is mentally and physically tiring. “It’s not going to be like before when he used to win nearly every match he played. That time has gone.”

“He wants to break the Sampras record and I think he will if he wants to continue playing tennis,” Borg said.

Borg, however, admits that he has a soft spot for Federer and will be more than happy to see him make it six out of six. — Agencies

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