Leo Borg on famous fathers, Rafael Nadal and life as a young tennis player
The young Swede is still in the early days of his career, but already thrives on the pressure of being the son of legendary tennis icon, Bjorn Borg
Leo Borg, Nordea Open, 2024 © Zuma/Panoramic
There are certain unique pressures that must come from following in the footsteps of a close relative who also happens to be a stratospherically famous sporting icon.
Few people on the planet will know those pressures more acutely than Leo Borg, son of 11-time Grand Slam champion Bjorn.
Trying to make it as a successful tennis player on the ATP Tour is notoriously difficult enough, let alone going through it all with an extra-bright fluorescent spotlight fixed on your surname wherever and whenever you play.
Having just turned the tender age of 21 years old this May, and with a current ranking of 590 in the world, one would expect to be able to lose in straight sets to Alexandre Muller in the first round an ATP 250 event without much fanfare.
But if that event is in Stockholm, which it was, and the player in question is the son of Bjorn Borg, which he is, then such an appearance garners an almost unfair level of attention and expectation – at least in Sweden.
I say “almost” because if it weren’t for the stature of his family name in his native homeland, then Leo would not have received the wildcard he did to play in the Stockholm Open this week – an opportunity many higher-ranked players would crave.
Yet, checks and balances apply here. True, a wildcard when ranked over halfway down to a thousand is a gift to be savoured. But the expectation, particularly in his home country, must reach intolerable levels for the still young Leo.
famous swedish fathers and idolising rafael nadal
Believe it or not, Leo Borg is not the only young athlete in Sweden currently playing a sport with big shoes to fill.
“Maximilian Ibrahimovic [son of Zlatan Ibrahimovic] and I are in the same position with a famous father,” Borg explains to Swedish sports site Rekatochklart, following that first-round loss to Muller in Stockholm.
“You have to try to focus on yourself and your own development,” Borg continued.
“I personally tend to play a little better when I’m under pressure and hopefully he feels the same. But you have to focus on your own development and your own thing.”
Despite having an obvious sporting role model to idolise close to home, young Borg found inspiration elsewhere, in a player who was integral in shaping the latest generation of tennis’ superstar era.
News of Rafael Nadal‘s retirement, like most inside tennis, came with more than a hint of sadness and nostalgia for Leo.
“He [Nadal] has always been my biggest idol,” Borg reveals candidly.
“He is probably the reason why I started playing tennis in the first place. He has a very big place in my heart.
“As long as I can remember, I have watched all his matches. I know almost all his results. Getting to meet him before he decided to quit was huge for me.
“It was one of my biggest dreams and I will remember that for the rest of my life.”
what does the future hold for leo borg?
But away from the childhood idols and the famous father, perhaps it is time to start focusing on Borg himself as a promising young player who, in truth, has yet to make waves among the lower rungs of tennis’ professional tours.
The first thing to note is that Borg dissects his matches with honestly sharp analysis, keen to point out his own shortcomings and adamant that he can improve.
“I didn’t really get into the match [against Muller]. He is very solid and plays a bit ugly. You always get a little out of position and out of lane against this guy.
“Overall an okay effort but of course I can do a lot more. I am not very happy with my performance.”
As for the future, while the big breakthrough result still feels some way off, there is no wavering from the project at hand.
Borg loves tennis, that much is evident. He is also firm in his conviction that this enjoyment will lead to a continued commitment to work hard and improve as a player.
“For me, tennis has been my life since I was very young. It’s as fun as it’s been all my life. I am passionate about this and will do everything to become as good a player as possible and get to the top.
“I am very focused and feel very motivated.”
Time will tell if the tennis world will once again see the name Borg etched into any of its biggest trophies.
One thing that is certain – greater success will come with a disproportionately high level of scrutiny for Leo than it does for most other players.
To what extent Borg can adjust to being in this spotlight, if and when it comes, will be a crucial factor in determining just how far this young Swede can go.
