Bjorn Borg is inextricably linked with the Wimbledon Championships. The love affair started in 1972, when the 16 year old won the Junior title at the tournament. The following year, Borg benefitted from the ATP boycott of the Gentlemen’s tournament and advanced to the Quarterfinals through a weakened field. Along the way, he captured the hearts and minds of the Wimbledon fans, especially the teenaged girl demographic.
Of Borg’s second round match that year, UPI journalist Peter Wilson wrote “Wimbledon’s hallowed Centre Court may have seen better tennis, but it has never heard more disturbing – or high pitched – cheering.” The “Ice Man” still captivates the hearts and minds of the All England faithful even to this day. It is evident by his welcome during the Parade of Champions this year.
The Golden Boy of Centre Court is ostensibly about the rise of Borg to tennis stardom and his transcendence at Wimbledon. He was an instantaneous teen idol. The All England Club even had to break with tradition by implementing special security provisions for Borg, such as an unannounced court reassignment, to “preserve his life and limb.” The book also literally includes a picture of the teenager exiting a hotel through a window just to avoid his throngs of admirers.
This book is obviously targeted at Borg super fans. It will also hold appeal to anyone who is interested in that general era of tennis. Borg’s signature accomplishment, winning the Wimbledon Championship five consecutive years, was heralded in the book. At the same time the other players who also previously accomplished the same feat five and even six consecutive times, were barely mentioned.
The tennis matches Borg played at the All England Club were recounted in excruciating detail in The Golden Boy of Centre Court. As it turns out, the Fiend at Court is primarily interested in history and storytelling. The shot by shot accounts of actual match play gets tedious in a hurry.
The last of Borg’s consecutive Wimbledon Championships came in 1980 at the expense of a very young John McEnroe. It is regarded by some as the best match of all time. The rather unimaginatively titled “Borg vs. McEnroe” movie starring Shia LaBeouf and Sverrir Gudnason, dramatizes that Final. In related news, I am astonished to discover that I have somehow failed to previously review that excellent movie on this site.
The following year in 1981, Borg was vanquished by McEnroe in the Wimbledon Finals trying for what would have been a historic sixth consecutive title. After the match Borg said “I’ll keep coming back as long as I enjoy it.” That innocuous statement proved to be an ominous prophecy. Borg had lost his love of the game and withdrew from competition.
Bjorn Borg super fans will appreciate The Golden Boy of Centre Court for the voluminous detail paid to the career of the tennis superstar. It is tempting to assert that his feat of 5 consecutive Wimbledon titles is unlikely to ever be equaled. Unfortunately, it has actually been done in the interim by some piker named Roger Federer. That dude ruins everything.
 | The Golden Boy of Centre Court: How Bjorn Borg Conquered Wimbledon |
