Tennis legend Björn Borg revealed his battle with aggressive prostate cancer during an emotional BBC Breakfast interview on Thursday. The 69-year-old five-time Wimbledon champion disclosed the devastating diagnosis in his latest autobiography, describing how he now lives "day by day, year by year".
Borg was diagnosed in 2023 with what he called an "extremely aggressive" form of cancer that had reached "its most advanced stage". After undergoing surgery in 2024, the Swedish tennis icon is now in remission but requires regular scans every six months to monitor for any return of the disease.
The tennis great spoke candidly about his medical team's stark warning. Borg said: "I spoke to the doctor, and he said, 'This is really, really bad, but it's done'. And he said, 'But you have these sleeping cancer cells in your body. It is going to be a fight in the future, and I hope I am going to be ok, I might be ok, I might not be ok'."
Living day by day
Borg revealed his philosophy for coping with the uncertainty ahead. He explained: "So every six months I will test myself. And right now, I did my last test two weeks ago, so I'm okay. I take it day by day, year by year, hopefully. It's the thing you have to live with."
The former world number one vowed to approach his cancer battle with the same determination that made him a tennis champion. In his autobiography, Borg wrote that he would "fight every day like it's a Wimbledon final".
Tennis icon's broader struggles
The Guardian reports that Borg's autobiography reveals extensive personal struggles beyond his medical diagnosis. The book details his battle with drug addiction starting in 1982, including cocaine use and overdoses that required hospitalisation.
Borg famously retired from professional tennis at just 25 after losing consecutive finals to John McEnroe at Wimbledon and the US Open in 1981. According to The Guardian, he described his life during that period as "miserable", highlighting the psychological challenges that accompanied his early retirement from the sport.
The tennis legend described his cancer diagnosis as "difficult psychologically" beyond the physical challenges, adding another layer to his lifelong battle with personal demons. Despite these struggles, Borg continues to face each day with the fighting spirit that defined his legendary career.
Sources used: "BBC", "The Guardian", "Mirror", "Manchester Evening News", "Bristol Post" Note: This article has been edited with the help of Artificial Intelligence.
