Photograph: Johan Eriksson
Photograph: PRIVATE
Leo Borg sits beneath a parasol and pulls off his socks.
They’re dung bitter.
He alters his shirt too. The one means it might be wetter is that if it was in a tub, if even then.
The 21-year-old is midway by coaching and inside minutes every little thing is as moist once more.
That is what occurs while you prepare in 32-degree Florida with humidity that turns the whole state right into a steam room.
However there are nonetheless straightforward steps across the exhausting court docket.
It is like that while you’ve simply received the fourth title of your profession, and also you’re additionally accompanied by your sweetheart.
Leo Borg simply flew over to Florida from Jamaica the place he defeated American Corey Craig within the closing of the M15 match.
– It has been a bit tough now in the beginning of the 12 months, I have not received that many matches this 12 months. So in the long run I get a win – it is tremendous enjoyable. I’ve fought very exhausting for it, he says.
What was proper this time, that has been trickier earlier this 12 months?
– The sport itself hasn’t actually been there and the physique hasn’t felt a hundred percent. Sadly, I’ve had a little bit of a minor damage in my once more and now every little thing is basically working.
In Kingston the sport was there, the strikes on the court docket had been proper, sure, the sensation was proper. Mentally he had ready himself. The once more issues that bothered him sometimes through the 12 months had been beneath management.
– I’ve made some silly errors and performed no matter whether or not I have been in a little bit of ache. It has had its penalties. However as I stated, I’ve fought very exhausting and completed plenty of rehab. Now the physique feels higher than ever.
Leo Borg’s victory: “Die for tennis”
It is not likely attainable to place into phrases the sensation of happiness that crammed him when the match ball went residence in Jamaica.
– An intoxication runs by the entire physique! Tennis is what I am dying for. That is what I’m combating for. Getting outcomes from what you battle for is superb.
Kingston was – identical to Florida is now – humid and sizzling. After the ultimate, Borg was so sore that it was dinner and mattress as an alternative of an enormous celebration.
Nevertheless it was a major victory nonetheless.
She is Leo Borg’s girlfriend
In social media, it additionally appeared that Leo Borg had firm in Jamaica – with love Elvira Hedlund, 21, from Borås.
These are the primary competitions that she travels with Leo Borg.
– It is a bit completely different than being at residence in Sweden. A number of train, a lot of tennis. It is a little bit completely different. She thinks it is nice enjoyable to be with, to date anyway. We’ve got nice enjoyable collectively, says Borg, his entire face shining.
– She has good statistics now – when she begins taking part, you get a title immediately. It is actually good for me too. She’s going to now be allowed to come back alongside to each competitors, haha,
Elvira Hedlund beforehand had a job on the municipality in Borås, however not.
– She give up so she might journey with me. It is a massive step… Sure, it truly is an enormous step. So she helps me, actually. It is her job, haha. She does that very effectively and I’m grateful for that.
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Leo Borg’s aim: Qualifying for the Australian Open
Leo Borg has placed on a brand new, for the second dry, shirt and sat down at a desk on the tennis facility in Hallandale Seaside.
Even if the coaching has been accomplished for some time, the sweat beads on the brow.
What does the goal image appear to be for this 12 months – do you have got one thing that you simply visualize, that you simply need to obtain?
– My aim this 12 months is to be in a grand slam qualifier. Then I must stand up a bit within the rating. However I completely imagine it’s attainable. After I play at my greatest and with my sport, I completely imagine I’ve an opportunity to get there. To get to the Australian Open within the qualifiers. It takes plenty of good matches and plenty of factors.
He additionally hopes for brand spanking new rounds within the Davis Cup.
After debuting in Bologna final fall (“a particularly good expertise” regardless of the three losses), Leo Borg was left with out taking part in time within the loss in opposition to Brazil in Helsingborg in February when Simon Aspelin took over as DC captain.
– Carl Friberg and I had roughly the identical rating. He had been taking part in very effectively currently. It’s as it’s. It’s as much as the coaches who they need to ship out.
For Swedish tennis on the whole, there’s, as you recognize, no scarcity of challenges.
The previous 12 months has been much less regarding titles and matches and extra regarding Mikael Ymer’s suspension for violating doping management guidelines, and Dragos Madaras who was banned for 4 years in an anti-corruption case. Leo Borg has been in the identical Davis Cup group as the 2.
– It is tremendous boring. Mikael was our greatest participant within the nation and Dragos was on his means up. Such conditions don’t make it simpler for Swedish tennis. So following all it’s extremely unhappy. We want gamers in Swedish tennis. We do not have a lot proper now, sadly, and it has been going downhill currently. We’ve got to hope that there can be some new gamers sooner or later, and that it’s going to save Swedish tennis.
McEnroe’s phrases: “An incredible weight”
There may be most likely one or two Swedish sports activities followers who’ve adopted his father and are actually hoping that Leo Borg might be the one who’s that rescue. Nevertheless it’s not one thing you simply remedy to order, no matter what your final title is.
John McEnroe just lately stated that the expectations that include being Björn Borg’s son may be “an enormous weight in your shoulders”, but in addition that it might be “one hell of a narrative” if it went very well for you. What do you suppose while you hear these phrases from him?
– It is nice enjoyable, following all. There may be plenty of expectation that I’ll do effectively instantly, and plenty of strain. However I like strain, actually. Currently I’ve come to adore it, as a result of that is following I play at my greatest.
He does not suppose “it is a massive deal” with the expectations, however works on and makes the most effective of the scenario.
– Hopefully I can reside as much as my title and grow to be even larger than my father is, and construct my very own title Leo Borg as an alternative of “son of Björn Borg”. So I’ve to hope for that.
Leo Borg on Björn Borg’s guide: “Not learn a web page”
Up to now, Leo Borg has a good bit to go to the extent and the popularity that you simply get following 5 consecutive Wimbledon titles.
Maybe exactly due to that, Björn Borg has saved a comparatively low profile following his profession. Even Ingemar Stenmark – who was the one one who might measure as much as Björn Borg in greatness – makes actuality TV and has an account on Instagram. Not Borg.
So when he lastly determined to inform the story of his life in guide kind, there was fairly a stir. The truth that it’s his spouse – Leo’s mom – Patricia Borg who will write the guide didn’t diminish the eye.
However Leo Borg takes every little thing in stride. He hasn’t even checked out what they’ve give you to date.
– Many individuals ask me regarding it. I have not learn a web page, however I am wanting ahead to it. I am going to most likely learn it instantly when it comes out.
Leo Borg clearly realizes that he’ll take up a spot within the guide to some extent, however has not paid consideration to what’s written – or not written – regarding him within the guide regarding father.
– I do not know what’s within the guide, instantly. I wait following which I learn the guide. It can definitely be nice, he says.
The job with dad: “Actually an enormous deal”
And the main focus and the strain is one factor – however it’s not only a yoke to bear both, the kinship.
It additionally results in issues like father and son Borg changing into an promoting duo for the road kitchen Sibylla.
In one of many commercials, Leo sends a go to Björn regarding his previous summer season date with Dr. Alban and Tomas Brolin – “All we”. The supply got here to Patricia and Björn Borg, and each the older and the youthful thought it was a enjoyable concept to do one thing like that collectively.
– We have not completed so many such issues. It was plenty of enjoyable for me, and much more enjoyable for dad. He thinks it is nice enjoyable to do one thing with me too. I hope. No, however it’s nice enjoyable to do one thing collectively. You’ll do not forget that for the remainder of your life. It is actually an enormous deal to get to do one thing together with your dad.
Leo and Björn Borg, collectively in a industrial.
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