Borg, on Tsitsipas: “He’s a guy who should win Grand Slam titles”

After Stefanos Tsitsipas’ victory against Thanasi Kokkinakis in the Laver Cup on Friday, Björn Borg, captain of Team Europe, went to a press conference with the Greek.

Imago/Panoramic

Mathieu Canac

September 21, 2024

John McEnroe grumbling, agitating to motivate his players; Björn Borg remains stoic, almost frozen on his bench like a statue. Like a monument. It is amazing for tennis, and sport in general.

It was with the myth of “Iceborg” as captain of Team Europe that helped Stefanos Tsitsipas crush Thanasi Kokkinakis – 6-1, 6-4 – on Friday afternoon. Tsitsipas is still looking for a coach after firing his father before the US Open.

Who would I choose, and why, if I had the power to take anyone as my coach? It would be Björn (Borg), for his aura.
Stefanos Tsitsipas

“Who would I choose, and why, if I had the power to take anyone as my coach? It would be Björn (Borg),” the Greek replied in a press conference. “The aura, it’s all about the aura. Why I choose Bjorn, it’s
not because he’s sitting right next to me here. I feel like the aura makes a big difference. Sometimes it’s not what they tell you and how they tell you. It’s that intimacy that you feel of someone sitting next to you and communicating things to you in a spiritual way.”

While Borg and McEnroe are living their last Laver Cup before being replaced by Andre Agassi and Yannick Noah, Tsitsipas already had the opportunity to be under the Swede’s leadership in 2019, 2021 and 2022.

In the storm this summer, TsitsipAs needs to find serenity

“That’s (the communication with Borg) something that I have enjoyed with Bjorn in the last few years, having played Laver Cup, and that is also why I keep coming back. I know that I have a great team captain by myself to support my tennis. That is also something that brings a lot of relief when I step out on the court.”

After a summer spent in tumult – father rebuffed and fired, criticism from his former physiotherapist in the magazine L’Equipe, defeat in the first round of the US Open – the Athenian needed this type of environment, and success, to “feel better psychologically”, as he explained to journalists.

He’s a guy who should win Grand Slam titles
Stefanos Tsitsipas

Enough to potentially lead him to get closer to a level more worthy of his standards, those of a man who should lift top trophies according to Borg’s discerning eye. “To see him play as well as today (Friday), it’s good for him, especially mentally,” said the 11-time Major champion. “He’s a guy who should win Grand Slam titles, he has the level of play. But it’s also a question of how you feel psychologically, mentally, etc.”

And to achieve this goal, his dream, Stefanos Tsitsipas will have to give up on another: being able to count on Björn Borg throughout the year. Asked about a possible return to the tour as a “super coach”, the 68-year-old legend replied: “I have a family, kids, dogs, and I’m very happy with all that.”