Björn Borg has revealed that he has been dealing with prostate cancer for the past two years. The Swedish tennis legend shares his deeply personal story in his upcoming biography, Heartbeats. Speaking to the Associated Press in a video interview, he confirmed that the cancer is now in remission following surgery.
A Shock Diagnosis
Borg, who turned 69 in July, said he was diagnosed with an extremely aggressive cancer out of the blue, despite having undergone regular check-ups for years. “The thing is that you don’t feel anything, you feel good, and then it just happens,” he said. He found out in September 2023 after a follow-up recommended by doctors, who discovered something unusual in his test results.
Doctors even suggested Bjorn skip a planned trip to Vancouver, where he was supposed to captain Team Europe in the Laver Cup, but he “didn’t listen” and flew to Canada anyway. His team was crushed by Team World 12–3, though Borg didn’t dwell too much on the loss at the time. As soon as he returned to Sweden, he underwent further tests and received the diagnosis. The most difficult part for Borg, he said, was waiting for surgery, which was scheduled for February 2024. “Who knows what’s going to happen?” he told the AP.
The Importance of Writing the Book
The operation was ultimately successful, and Borg has since been declared in remission, though he remains cautious about his future health. The tennis great, who won 11 Grand Slam titles between 1974 and 1981 (six French Opens and five Wimbledons), credits the process of writing Heartbeats—co-authored with his wife, Patricia—as a source of strength during his recovery. “I went through some difficult times, but it was a relief for me to do this book. I feel so much better,” he said.
Feeling Good and Regular Check-Ups
Borg also said he has put the worst behind him, as his most recent tests came back clear. “I have nothing right now and I’m feeling very good. But every six months I have to go and get checked. The whole process–it’s not a fun thing,” he said. He dedicated the final chapter of his biography to this journey, which is set to be released in the U.S. on September 23.
Main Photo Credit: Peter van den Berg-USA TODAY Sports
