McEnroe convinced Borg to keep trophies
Wimbledon winner from 1976-1980 also denies he did it because he's poor
 Rob Taggart / Hulton Archive via Getty Images Bjorn Borg kisses the trophy after winning Wimbledon for the fifth straight time on July 5, 1980. He had beaten John McEnroe. |
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STOCKHOLM, Sweden - Bjorn Borg is hanging on to his Wimbledon trophies, and he can thank longtime rival John McEnroe.
Borg said in the Swedish newspaper Expressen on Tuesday that he received calls from several former tennis stars after announcing plans to auction his five Wimbledon trophies and two of his title-winning wood rackets.
“And then when John McEnroe called me several times and wondered what I was doing, I guess I woke up: — Borg, what has gotten in to you? Have you gone completely nuts?”’ he said.
Andre Agassi had also urged Borg not to sell the silver gilt trophies that had been expected to fetch $350,000 to $525,000 at the Bonhams auction house in London.
“But clearly McEnroe convinced me,” Borg said.
The long-haired Swede won his five Wimbledons between 1976 and 1980, including a five-setter over McEnroe in his last final. Borg also won six French Open titles before retiring at 26.
Borg said this month he would sell the trophies to secure “financial security” for people close to him. That set off speculation that Borg, who has had several failed financial ventures, was broke.
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“I guess I was tired of seeing the old stuff lying about here in the house,” he added. “Maybe I though they could bring joy to other tennis enthusiasts. I didn’t think it through. Today I regret it.”
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