Portal:Tennis/Selected biography/25

Björn Borg (Swedish pronunciation: [ˈbjœːɳ ˈbɔrj] ; born 6 June 1956) is a former World No. 1 tennis player from Sweden widely considered to be one of the greatest in tennis history. Between 1974 and 1981 he won 11 Grand Slam singles titles, six at the French Open and five consecutive at Wimbledon. He also won three year-end championships and 15 Grand Prix Super Series titles.

Borg set numerous Open Era records that still stand, most notably winning 41% of the Grand Slam singles tournaments he entered, winning both the French Open and Wimbledon for three consecutive years, and winning three Grand Slams without losing a set. He also was the first male professional to win 11 Grand Slam singles titles, and his career match win rate remains the second best of the Open Era.

A teenage sensation at the start of his career, Borg's unprecedented stardom and consistent success helped propel the rising popularity of tennis during the 1970s. As a result, the professional tour became more lucrative, and in 1979 he was the first player to earn more than one million dollars in prize money in a single season. He also made millions in endorsements throughout his career. The downside, however, was the constant attention and pressure eventually caused burnout and his retirement at the age of 26.