Bjorn Borg is a winner of 11 Grand Slams and is widely considered to be the greatest player of his generation.
Remarkably, the Swedish legend could have achieved so much more had he not retired from the sport in 1983, at the age of 26.
Borg also won Sweden’s first Davis Cup in 1975 and a record 33 consecutive Davis Cup matches.
The Swedish star grew up watching Rod Laver – another 11-time champion who twice won all four Slams in a calendar year, in 1962 and 1969.
Laver became an inspiration for Borg – understandably so. However, on-court play was not the defining factor in Borg’s admiration for the Australian.
Bjorn Borg idolised Rod Laver because of how he behaved on court
As relayed by the US Open, Borg said of the Australian: “Rod Laver was my childhood idol, but the first time I saw him in person was at 1971 Wimbledon, when he lost to Tom Gorman.
“Before that, I had watched him on TV, but his only influence on me was how he behaved on court, not his strokes. I admired his concentration and straight face. He never got upset.”
Laver, the namesake of the Laver Cup, helped Australia win five Davis Cup titles alongside Roy Emerson, and was ranked as the world’s best player from 1965 to 1969.
Five years after surrendering the world number one spot, Laver faced Borg in a match for the first time in Barcelona.
Laver, who lost the match 6-1, 6-1, would go on to lose the majority of his matches against Borg.
Bjorn Borg’s dominant record against Rod Laver
Bjorn Borg and Rod Laver faced each other eight times over the course of their respective careers, with Borg winning on six of those occasions.
Laver avenged his opening loss to Borg in Barcelona by defeating the Swedish star 6-3, 7-5 in the 1974 Tokyo Open. Later that same year, Laver again defeated Borg, this time in Houston, Texas.
From there, Borg dominated the matchup, winning their final five contests.
| Tournament | Winner | Score |
| 1974 Barcelona | Bjorn Borg | 6-1, 6-1 |
| 1974 Tokyo | Rod Laver | 6-3, 7-5 |
| 1974 Houston | Rod Laver | 7-6, 6-2 |
| 1975 WCT Finals | Bjorn Borg | 7-6, 3-6, 5-7, 7-6, 6-2 |
| 1975 US Open | Bjorn Borg | 6-1, 6-4, 2-6, 6-2 |
| 1976 Palm Springs | Bjorn Borg | 6-2, 6-7, 7-6 |
| 1976 World Invitational Tennis Classic | Bjorn Borg | 6-3, 7-5 |
| 1978 Las Vegas | Bjorn Borg | 6-4, 6-2 |
Their last match occurred in 1978. At the Las Vegas Open, Borg defeated Laver 6-4, 6-2 in the round of 16.
Borg and Laver contested one Grand Slam match. Borg won the 1975 US Open match 6-1, 6-4, 2-6, 6-2.
