ATP Björn Borg

Borg designs the perfect tennis player using only players from his era

Fernando Murciego - 22 Oct 2026
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Bjorn Borg designs the perfect tennis player using players from his generation. Source: Getty

What would the perfect tennis player from one of the most exciting eras in tennis history have? The serve of an American bomber? The volley of an unmatched genius? The physique of a Swedish legend? Björn Borg has a clear vision. The former Swedish tennis player, one of the great icons of this sport, has chosen the best qualities of his contemporaries to create the ideal player of his generation. 

A combination of talents that, had they come together in one person, would have been practically unbeatable.

Borg, the winner of eleven Grand Slam titles and a key figure in some of the most memorable rivalries of the seventies and early eighties, engaged in the game by distributing his choices among four fundamental names of that era: Roscoe Tanner, Jimmy Connors, John McEnroe, and Guillermo Vilas. Interestingly, he also reserved a special place for himself, aware that his extraordinary physical condition was one of the major keys to his dominance.

From Tanner to McEnroe: this is the perfect tennis player according to Björn Borg

For the serve, Borg opted for Roscoe Tanner. The American, famous for the power of his serve and his ability to secure direct points, was one of the great servers of his generation. For the return, however, the choice was Jimmy Connors, an aggressive, tireless player capable of punishing his opponent from the very first exchange.

The volley had an undisputed owner for the Swede: John McEnroe. His sensitivity, reflexes, and exceptional ability to find impossible angles made him one of the best net specialists of all time. For the physique, Borg didn't need to look beyond his own home; he chose his own strength, that endurance which allowed him to survive endless matches and dominate particularly at Roland Garros and Wimbledon.

The backhand was the only category in which he shared the spotlight, splitting the credit between Connors and himself. To conclude his selection, Borg chose the forehand of Guillermo Vilas, another of the great references in world tennis of those years. A lineup of legends that also portrays an era characterized by opposing personalities, recognizable styles, and rivalries that helped turn tennis into a global spectacle.

This is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Borg diseña al tenista perfecto utilizando solamente jugadores de su época