Bjorn Borg
Borg joined the professional circuit aged 14 and in 1972, at the age of 15, he set his first record, becoming the youngest player ever to win a Davis Cup singles rubber.
He won his first Grand Slam title at the French Open, defeating Manuel Orantes in a five-set final. Barely 18 at the time, Borg was the youngest-ever male French Open champion. The Swede went on to win a further five Roland Garros titles, including four consecutively between 1978 and 1981. His six French Open singles titles remains a record to this day.
Borg won Wimbledon in 1976 without losing a set to became the youngest male Wimbledon champion of the modern era at 20 years and 1 month. He won his fifth consecutive singles title at SW19 in 1980 by defeating John McEnroe in a five sets. The match, which included the famous fourth-set tie break won by McEnroe 18 points to 16, is often cited as the best Wimbledon final ever played. The U.S. Open was always Borg’s particular jinx. He failed to win in 10 tries, losing four finals.
He shocked the tennis world in January 1983 when he announced his retirement at the age of just 26. He attempted a brief comeback in the early 1990’s, before joining his contempories on the ATP Champions Tour.
