Tennis needs McEnroe: Borg

Press, 27 January 1986, Page 38

Tennis needs McEnroe: Borg

NZPA-Reuter Neuss, West Germany

The former world No. 1, Bjorn Borg, of Sweden, said yesterday that tennis needs his former arch-rival, John McEnroe.

The American, who failed to win a single grand slam title last year and made a shock first round exit to a compatriot, Brad Gilbert, in this month’s Masters, said earlier in the week he was taking a break from the game for at least two months.

Borg, speaking after beating an American, Vitas Gerulaitis, 6-4, 6-3, in an exhibition match, said: “It would be a great pity if he went out of the sport Tennis needs him. He’s a big personality and I’m sure he’ll be back.” The Swede, who retired from top-class tennis at the age of 26, said he did not believe McEnroe’s situation was similar.

“He’s going to have a family and that means he’ll have other views of life,” he said. “He’s been playing tennis for such a long time and there’s only been tennis in his life.

“There’s nothing unusual in it — he’s a human being like anybody else. He’ll take time off and it might be good for him.”

Borg, who beat McEnroe in two of a series of six exhibitions in the United States late last year, said the world No. 2 had not spoken to him about his plans.

Gerulaitis, a good friend of McEnroe, said he did not believe the decision to take a break heralded the end of McEnroe’s career. “The two situations are very different,” he said. “Bjorn picked when he wanted to stop. The situation came on McEnroe so quickly, he’s mixed up with it right now.

“I haven’t spoken with him about it but I’m sure John wants to play on.