On September 13, 1981, a pivotal moment occurred in the life of tennis legend Bjorn Borg. Competing in the US Open final, Borg endured a heart-wrenching loss to John McEnroe. Despite winning the opening set, Borg was dominated in the next three sets in a one-sided final. The defeat hit hard, prompting Borg to storm out of the stadium and skip the presentation ceremony and interview. This match marked the end of his Grand Slam singles career at just 25 years old.
Borg had previously achieved tremendous success, securing five consecutive Wimbledon titles from 1976 to 1980. However, he never returned to the tournament after 1981, leaving fans deeply disappointed by his absence. Even Roger Federer, who idolized Borg, felt the impact of his hero’s withdrawal from Wimbledon.
Federer, who grew up hearing about Borg’s Wimbledon prowess, expressed his feelings in his documentary, “Federer: Twelve Final Days.” He remarked, “It’s funny, you know. I talked about Bjorn Borg, he didn’t return to Wimbledon for 25 years and that, in a way, hurts every tennis fan. Totally acceptable, his life, his reasons, but I don’t think I’ll be that guy.”
