Bjorn Borg Reveals Battle with Aggressive Prostate Cancer

Swedish tennis legend Bjorn Borg has disclosed that he is fighting an aggressive form of prostate cancer. The 11-time Grand Slam champion revealed his diagnosis in his autobiography, "Heartbeats: A Memoir," co-authored with his wife Patricia. Borg underwent surgery in 2024 and is now in remission.

Borg, who won five consecutive Wimbledon titles from 1976 to 1980 and claimed six French Open championships, shared the news with a determined outlook. "I spoke to the doctor, and he said this is really, really bad," Borg told the BBC. "He said you have these sleeping cancer cells, it’s going to be a fight in the future. Every six months I go and test myself. I did my last test two weeks ago. It’s a thing I have to live with."

Despite routine health check-ups over the years, the cancer was only detected in 2023, surprising the tennis great. "The thing is that you don’t feel anything – you feel good, and then it’s just happened," Borg stated. "I hope that I’m going to be OK. I take it day by day, year by year, hopefully."

Borg, who dominated men's tennis during his prime and held the world No. 1 ranking for 109 weeks, briefly attempted a comeback in 1991 but did not regain his former standing. His iconic rivalry with John McEnroe, particularly their 1980 Wimbledon final regarded as one of the greatest matches in tennis history, remains a defining part of his legacy.

Reflecting on his new challenge, Borg wrote, "Now I have a new opponent in cancer – one I can’t control. But I’m going to beat it. I’m not giving up. I fight like every day is a Wimbledon final. And those usually go pretty well, don’t they?"