Björn Borg turned 70 in June 2026, and the Ice Man has rarely been more open. His memoir Heartbeats, written with his wife Patricia, was published in September 2025, while his son Leo is carrying the family name on the professional tour, winning as a wildcard at the Stockholm Open last October.
Eleven Grand Slam titles, five Wimbledons in a row and a retirement at 26 that stunned the sport: this is the story of tennis's first rock star. Browse our tennis collection for more icons of the court.
Björn Borg Fact File
| Full name | Björn Rune Borg |
|---|---|
| Date of birth | 6 June 1956 (age 70) |
| Place of birth | Stockholm, Sweden (raised in Södertälje) |
| Height | 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in) |
| Plays | Right-handed, two-handed backhand |
| Nationality | Swedish |
| Status | Retired (announced January 1983) |
| Highest ranking | World No. 1 (109 weeks) |
| Nicknames | Ice Man, Ice Borg |
Career History
| Years | Grand Slam titles | Highlights |
|---|---|---|
| 1973–1975 | 2 (French Open 1974, 1975) | Davis Cup winner with Sweden (1975) |
| 1976–1977 | 2 (Wimbledon 1976, 1977) | First world No. 1, August 1977 |
| 1978–1980 | 6 (French and Wimbledon each year) | Year-end No. 1 in 1979 and 1980; Masters 1978, 1979 |
| 1981 | 1 (French Open) | Wimbledon and US Open finals lost to McEnroe |
| Career | 11 | 64 singles titles, 644–135 win-loss (ATP) |
Singles titles and win-loss record are ATP figures; some historians count more titles when including all events of the era. Masters refers to the season-ending championship, now the ATP Finals.
Early Years: A Racket From the Table
Borg's tennis story began almost by accident. His father Rune won a golden tennis racket at a table-tennis tournament and handed it to his son. Growing up in Södertälje, Björn was beating Sweden's best juniors by 13, and he won the Italian Open aged just 17. With his heavy topspin and two-handed backhand, he looked like nobody else.
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The Breakthrough: Paris and the Davis Cup
In 1974, aged 18, Borg won the French Open, at the time its youngest men's champion. He defended the title in 1975 and the same year led Sweden to their first Davis Cup, winning two singles rubbers and the doubles in a 3–2 final win over Czechoslovakia. By then he had won 16 Davis Cup singles matches in a row. Relive the rise with our Bjorn Borg Tennis Icon Frame Men's T-Shirt.
The Peak: Five Wimbledons in a Row
From 1976 to 1980 Borg won Wimbledon five years running, the first man to do so since Laurie Doherty in the early 1900s, beating Ilie Năstase, Jimmy Connors twice, Roscoe Tanner and John McEnroe. He was also unstoppable on clay, winning the French Open every year from 1978 to 1981 and finishing with a remarkable 49–2 record at Roland Garros.
The 1980 Wimbledon final is still talked about as one of the greatest matches ever played. McEnroe won the fourth-set tie-break 18–16, but Borg held his nerve to win the fifth set after nearly four hours. Wrap up in our Bjorn Borg Men's Hoodie.
The Shock Retirement
In 1981 McEnroe ended Borg's Wimbledon reign and beat him again in the US Open final, the one Grand Slam Borg never won along with the Australian Open. In January 1983, aged just 26, he announced his retirement. A brief comeback in the early 1990s brought no match wins, but his legacy was secure, and he entered the International Tennis Hall of Fame in 1987.
Honours
Grand Slam singles (11)
- French Open: 1974, 1975, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1981
- Wimbledon: 1976, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1980
Other titles
- Masters (season-ending championship): 1978, 1979
- Davis Cup: 1975
- Italian Open (won aged 17)
Rankings and legacy
- World No. 1 for 109 weeks; year-end No. 1 in 1979 and 1980
- International Tennis Hall of Fame (1987)
- Laver Cup: Team Europe captain 2017–2024, five titles
Away From the Court
Borg's name lives on in the Björn Borg fashion and sportswear brand, founded in the early 1990s. He captained Team Europe at every Laver Cup from 2017 to 2024, opposite his old rival McEnroe, and his son Leo Borg plays professionally.
FAQs
How old is Björn Borg?
Björn Borg was born on 6 June 1956, so he is 70 years old.
Where was Björn Borg born?
He was born in Stockholm, Sweden, and grew up in Södertälje.
How tall is Björn Borg?
He is about 1.80 m, or 5 ft 11 in.
How many Grand Slams did Björn Borg win?
11: six French Opens and five Wimbledons. He never won the US Open or the Australian Open.
Why did Björn Borg retire so young?
He announced his retirement in January 1983 at the age of 26, after more than a decade at the top of the game, shocking the tennis world.
Who won the 1980 Wimbledon final?
Borg beat John McEnroe in five sets, despite losing a famous 18–16 fourth-set tie-break, to win his fifth straight Wimbledon title.
Shop the Björn Borg Collection
Made to order in the UK, these designs celebrate tennis's original Ice Man.
Bjorn Borg Men's Hoodie
£39.99
Bjorn Borg Men's T-Shirt
£29.99
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Part of our Player Profiles series. Read next: Roger Federer Career Story and Andre Agassi Career Story.
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