Inspired by True Events
Quiet, please. Quiet, please.
Tennis uses the language of life. Advantage, service, fault, break, love... the basic elements of tennis are those of everyday existence, because every match is a life in miniature.
There it is, the cathedral of tennis,
Centre Court, Wimbledon.
And the two top players in the world,
Björn Borg and John McEnroe, are about to come out.
It's the perfect rivalry.
The baseline player and the net rusher.
Ice Borg versus SuperBrat.
Björn Borg, four championships in a row,
aiming for a fifth.
Winbledon's Final 1980
Björn Borg won Wimbledon four times in a row Now is trying to win it for the fifth time, and to become the most successful player of all time
John McEnroe is the rising Star of Tennis He occupies second place in the world ranking list after Borg Now he wants his first Winbledon victory
Björn Borg has broken McEnroe!
McEnroe again says no!
The rivalry between Bjorn and John changed the world of tennis sports ...and both man forever
It's dead even!
Borg! Borg! Borg! Borg! Borg! Borg! Borg! Borg!
- Borg! Borg! - Quiet, please.
Final set, Borg serving.
Let me try.
Good!
Don't ...stop it!
Are you playing in the Davis Cup? Or is it in Wimbledon? Björn?
- Are you in the final? - Yes.
Is the competition fierce?
MONACO, 1980 HOUSE OF BJÖRN BORG
Good luck at Wimbledon.
- Thank you. - Björn.
- Make sure you bring home the trophy now, huh? - Do my best.
It's Björn!
- An autograph, please.
Yeah, sure.
Here you go.
- Please...
- You selling these? - Björn! Björn!
Björn! Björn! Björn Borg!
Björn! Björn! Björn!
What is up? Are they chasing you?
Uh, sorry. Don't... Don't speak French.
un café s'il vous plaît?
- Un Café? - Café.
Here you go, sir.
Merci.
Do you speak English?
- Little. - A little. Uh...
Uh, can I come in with the money later?
'Cause I left my wallet in the car.
No, no, no, no, no.
- No? - No.
But you can give me some help, if you want.
Right there.
Okay? It's, uh... It's everything.
- Thank you. I am Amidou. - Thank you.
Uh, my name is, uh, Rune.
- Rune? - Rune.
Rune. It's, uh...
- Rune. - Swedish.
Rune.
What you do?
Uh, I-I wo... Uh... I work as a...
an, uh, electrician.
Yes.
If you are an electrician, I am Prince Albert.
Merci.
Do you like electric?
Yes, it's...
Yeah, it's, uh... It's a very good job.
It's a normal job.
Where have you been? I was worried.
I came home on foot.
"Is something wrong?" "No, I just lost track of time.
Did you pack?
Of course.
Out.
- Fuck! - How?
That is a break point. Get down and look at it!
Shut the fuck up!
...and you don't think that my dad's gonna...
That's on you, my man. That's not on me.
I don't give a shit about crap like you.
- This is out, this is in! - Fuck!
- Fuck you! - I have to ask that you resume playing, Mr. McEnroe.
Fuck! There's not been any mistakes officiating the lines today at all?
- Answer the question. - Time!
The question, jerk-off! Answer the question!
- Stopping? I'm stopping play? - The man The New York Times described as being
the worst representative of American values since Al Capone.
Ladies and gentlemen,
John McEnroe.
â™ª Freedom â™ª
â™ª Driving in the fast lane â™ª
So, John, uh, you upset anybody out in the wings yet?
No, not that I know of. Not yet.
You know, I like you, John. You're great.
- And, um, in three days... - Three days.
- you're going to London to play Wimbledon. - Yep.
Yeah! Yeah!
And everyone's talking about Björn. Borg's chance
to win his fifth straight title and make tennis history.
Now, apparently, the only thing standing between Borg and that record is you.
Mm-hmm.
Well, here's what, uh, they're saying over in London,
where you're hardly making any friends.
John, I gotta ask you. What is it that you've done to the Brits?
Yeah, I don't know. It's just such a different place, you know?
It's a different culture and they have warm beer and it's just a different thing.
Have you got a plan to get them to stop booing?
I plan to go in there and play my game,
and if I beat Borg in the finals, it's very hard to boo me if I'm number one.
So...
- Can you make a charge, stop McEnroe? - They say McEnroe...
I love you, Björn!
Björn., I love you!
How do you feel about John McEnroe?
Well, here's what the press here is saying.
I can be anybody's nightmare though, you know.
But I guess I wouldn't be exaggerating if I were to say that you and Borg
are as different as two people could possibly be.
You keep going back to Borg. Is he backstage? Is he gonna jump out of a cake?
Feel like we keep talking about him. You know, I'm here.
I'm working interviews. Here we are.
It's just that Borg is often described as being pure perfection
and, uh, zero emotion.
Do you think he ever loses it?
I don't know.
Tomorrow and Wednesday must rain, but not today.
This is not our usual car.
- Course is. They know what we want. - Upholstery is different.
Balls!
I'll call them tomorrow.
You're gonna spend the whole fucking interview talking about Borg?
You said we were gonna talk about the future of tennis. Now you're gonna bullshit me?
That's so fucked up. Every fucking time, man.
Fuck this stupid shit!
- They promised, Dad. This is pointless, man. - You did fine.
- You did fine. That's everything. - Every fucking time!
Two days to go, Arthur, and everybody's talking about Björn Borg,
the Swede who, at only 24, could make history by winning his fifth Wimbledon.
Can McEnroe pull Borg from his throne, Arthur?
Borg will be playing under a tremendous amount of pressure.
Everyone expects him to win.
McEnroe, on the other hand, he is the perfect underdog.
You've played them both. Who's the toughest opponent?
McEnroe is the bigger talent,
but playing Borg is like being hit by a sledgehammer.
But if Borg is a sledgehammer, I'd say that McEnroe is a stiletto.
A slash here, a slice there, and suddenly you're covered in blood
even though none of the wounds are particularly deep, and then...
then you bleed to death.
6,000. 6,000!
Björn.! We love you!
Do not worry, you will regain confidence.
I thought it would be a "closed" workout.
Tell that to leeches which are beyond.
You'll be fine. Concentrate.
So I hadn't seen you since the opening.
Ladies and gentlemen, Mr. Borg will be here in a moment.
Any questions for the other players?
Did he win already?
Mr. Borg, the Daily Mail.
How does it feel to receive a telegram from the King to wish you good luck?
Good Luck Votes are always friendly.
Mr. Borg, how does it feel knowing you'll make history if you win your fifth Wimbledon?
No special feelings.
- Björn! Björn! - Mr. Borg!
Björn! Björn!
This is for the fall of '82.
It's two years away, so you don't need to think about it now,
but just so you know, we're aiming mostly for Asia.
Exhibition tournaments in Japan, South Korea,
Hong Kong, maybe China, and then South Africa.
But I think we said no to South Africa.
It's a million dollars. For one match.
Yes, but it's also supporting apartheid.
We have to fine-tune the rackets, Björn.
Go on, I'll be right there.
Come in !
Put here. Thank you.
Soon you're gonna need another room for all those wedding gifts.
We've had an offer from the Daily Mail for the photo rights for your wedding.
- What was the other offer, Andy? - Uh, the Post.
200.
Oh, no, we decided on a private wedding.
Well, that's exactly why you should sell the rights.
Otherwise you're gonna have 50 paparazzi hiding in the bushes.
What do you think?
- Björn? What do you think? - What is the problem?
They are planning our life.
"Did you not hear what they said?" - Yes, but I want to hear what you want.
Do you want to play in Africa? Do you want to "sell" our marriage?
"I can not think of that now. "It is now that we have to decide.
I can not think about it now.
Right, sure...
We've got some, uh...
Björn, if the marriage is to make you nervous, we can postpone it.
No, no problem.
"We can do something simpler." - Yes.
Unless it's all settled.
We can do whatever we want.
â™ª I hear the big beat â™ª
â™ª All through the town â™ª
â™ª I want the big beat â™ª
â™ª I get around â™ª
â™ª There's no time For hesitation â™ª
Calder. Hey, can I make a request?
Do you have any black felt-tip markers?
Like a Sharpie and a big 80-by-80 piece of paper?
Like a board? Like a poster?
Can you send up the markers then?
Okay, thank you.
- McEnroe residence. - Hey. Hi, Mom.
Is Dad there?
No, he's at proceedings with a client.
- Do you know when he's gonna be back? - After lunch.
Whenever that is.
Well, then can he call me after the client thing?
- Why do you need to talk to him? - Because it's important.
- Okay. - Why else...
Now don't-don't be angry.
I'm not.
- You are sounding... - No, I just don't want to...
I don't want to have this with you, you know? There's a lot going on.
There's a lot going on here too.
Go to bed. I'll handle the rest.
What is up?
No one will remember that I won in Wimbledon 4 consecutive times.
"But only that I lost it the fifth time." - What does it matter what they think?
Looks like they're all waiting ...
Waiting for me to fall. - Fuck everybody!
Give everything you have, tomorrow, even if that seems like the last thing you do.
It's all here, Björn. Here inside.
Play for OIsson. Olsson leads 4-2 in the second set.
- Out! "No. It was on the line."
Do not flag the foul! Wake up!
"What did you say, Borg?" - I know it was out!
Unsportsmanlike conduct. Warning, Borg.
Unsportsmanlike conduct. Punishment:Borg 0-15.
Unsportsmanlike conduct. Punishment:Borg 0-30.
Who is that?
- It's Borg. he's from Södertälje. - There's a lot of energy.
Yes, but little judgment.
His club does not know what to do. Kid's a problem.
Look at that left ... With both hands ...
He thinks he's hitting with a taco?
Listen...
You win for the next one.
Björn?
There is no better way to solve this?
"Björn will not cause you any more trouble." - Promise.
Mrs. Borg, it's important. to set an example.
- 6 months suspension is an exaggeration. "We have received many phone calls.
Phone calls from Halmstad, Falköping and Stockholm.
Of the parents of the other players.
They are upset. They do not want their children mixed with Björn.
Tennis is not like football or the hockey, where only the victory interests.
In tennis, the way you win is also important.
It's a sport of gentlemen.
Let's be honest ...
Tennis is not an adequate sport to all social classes.
What goes on in that head, when you play
Look at me, when I talk to you
I don't know.
- We'll have to sell your racket. - Rune, please ...
None of the other kids make a scene
Shut up!
Kid! I'm going to turn off the lights.
- Do you want a cinnamon bun?
"I do not have any money."
Ah! I pay. You deserve it. - Right.
Two cinnamon bun.
Do you also play hockey? That explains your left.
- Looks like a high-top shot. - Yes, it gives more strength.
Exactly.
They say you're almost as good in hockey, as you are in tennis.
Maybe it's more appropriate for me.
Who said that?
I'm the captain of the Davis Cup Swedish team, don't you know?
Ja.
It's part of my job. discover talents.
Few are suspended for unsportsmanlike conduct.
Hmm.
They say you're not good in the head.
Did they tell you that, too?
Hmm.
You think that's true?
Björn?
Nej.
Who says that, only thinks to know what you need
But, did they play in the Central Court of Wimbledon?
Nej.
- No. - I played.
Quarterfinals. In 1946, 1948 and 1951.
I know.
Percy Rosberg and I would like you to came to Stockholm for training.
- Does it sound good to you? - Hmm.
One more thing, Björn ...
And you will not answer, What they have said, you should answer.
What do you want from tennis?
Being the best.
"The best in Sweden?"
- No. In the world.
Can you imagine me doing something else...
besides playing tennis?
Yes.
And can you?
Do not think.
It's simple. He has a strong serve, but that's all.
Stay on the back and play your tennis.
Love-15.
40-love.
Björn Borg, world number one,
is having an unexpectedly hard time
against the unseeded Egyptian El Shafei.
No, thank you.
I said no, thank you. I said it twi... Oh, Pete.
Oh, my God.
You motherfucker.
- You good? - Yeah. Look.
There it is.
Basically, you win all your matches, we see each other in the quarters,
and I got Connors in the semi, Borg in the final.
- How long this take you? - About an hour or so.
- You got your wallet? - Yep.
I gotta get out of here, man.
- How's your foot? - It's better.
- Yeah? - Yeah, I got this ankle support.
- It's, uh... It's working. - Good.
See how it goes? Cut here.
Yeah. Okay.
- Then we meet here. - Yeah. You're gonna go this way.
- Okay. - And that's us here.
You stop there. And the rest of this shit goes.
You're that sure you're gonna beat me?
- Oh, fuck yeah. - Yeah?
Any comments on your performance today, Mr. Borg?
Well, he played very, very good, and, uh,
I beat him in the end, but, uh, it's, uh... it was not easy.
But I'm looking forward to the next game.
So, tougher than you thought out there.
It took time to feel the surface,
but then after a while, I played my tennis.
You know how many times I've tried to do this,
go into a match and just been, like,
no emotion, all order, just be Borg.
This is impossible. This is not...
- This isn't human. He's like... - Yo!
- Hey. - Where you guys been? I been looking for you.
- Just here. Yeah. - How ya doin'? How ya doin'?
Cool. Want a drink?
- Peter. - Good to see you.
I got a car waiting for us. Let's go.
- No, I gotta see Jennie. - Peter.
- Sorry. - All right. Here we go.
- Come on. - Send my love to Jennie. Come on, ladies.
- Let's go. Let's go. - Yeah.
Come on. Keep up. Come on.
It's like my second home. I love this place.
Honestly. Everybody's so good here.
- Good people here. Hey. - Hey, Vitas.
- How you doing? How you doing, man? - Good to see you.
Hey, hey!
Hey! Whoo!
Oh!
Hit me in the fucking head!
- Hey, are you watching the matches? - Ahhh!
- You watch the Borg match? Did you see what I'm seeing? - Yeah.
You see him get slower? Like much, much slower?
Because he's out of shape?
You'll understand someday, all right?
Explain it.
Look. You got four Wimbledon titles.
All right? It's a lot of pressure.
Everybody wants to beat Björn.. Everybody wants something from Björn..
It makes you the loneliest fucking guy on the planet, you know?
Mmm.
That's good shit. Um, look.
This is... This is Eve, and this is Eve, and they're Brits.
They're beautiful fucking ladies. They want to meet you, they want to party with you.
They fucking love you, and I just... I can't talk about tennis here.
Look at these titties, right? What the fuck? What more do you want, John?
- But look. You wanna know what Björn's doing right now? - Yes.
He's in bed.
His room is cold as fuck because he wants his pulse below 50 beats a minute.
- That's a rumor. - It's not. He's got all these superstitions.
- Rituals. - Cut the shit and say the stuff I want to fucking hear.
This year, his parents aren't allowed to come. All right?
He only lets them come every second year,
and when they do, they gotta wear the same clothes throughout the tournament.
- Get the fuck outta here. - Yeah, right?
Every year he trains on the same court, he rents the same hotel,
he rents the same car, he sleeps in the same room.
His coach always brings 50 rackets strung tight as fuck,
and every night before the match, they meet in Lennart's room,
going over all the rackets, organizing everything according to tension and key.
It's like a fucking religion.
Mariana, his girlfriend, she takes care of his bag.
Same meticulous order. Everything exact.
What is that?
When he gets to the arena, takes the same chair
and two towels.
Not one. Not three. Two.
And he never treads on the baseline.
- Why? - 'Cause that means bad luck.
They say he's an iceberg. Really he's a volcano keeping it all in until boom.
A bit shorter, huh?
That geography test.
What happened there?
I got a 96 out of a hundred.
What about the other four?
I got the top of my class.
How many kids in your class, John?
Thirty.
The real world outside of school is a lot bigger than 30 people.
Right?
Tennis making you lose focus?
SECOND ROUND MCENROE vs. ROCAVERT
Oh, come on.
Is somebody gonna do something about the pigeons? I mean...
You don't hear that?
On the roof. You don't hear that? On the roof.
- Nothing will be done about any pigeons... - Of course not.
- during this match, Mr. McEnroe. - Fuck it.
Go, Mac!
Pigeons are ruining my focus! Don't you get it?
- I have to ask you to continue playing, Mr. McEnroe. - Shut up. Shut up.
Come on, Big Mac!
Shh!
15-love.
Why don't you light off fireworks
while I'm doing this?
Light off fireworks while I'm serving, okay?
Whistle a fucking song or something.
Boo!
Quiet, please.
Thank-Thank you. Thank you.
Come on. Shut the fuck up!
New ball. Give me another ball.
He seems deconcentrated.
No. It's the opposite.
Watch ...
30-love.
- Fuck this! - Calm!
15-0 for Bengtson.
Out.
Björn!
Enough for today. Thank you.
- Why are you always doing this? - What?
Swinging in the air like this, after you fail?
Instead, concentrate on the next strike.
Are you listening to me?
Lennart, you can pass on my Cabinet, sooner?
- We have to talk about Borg. - What about him?
Will be in the group to compete against New Zealand?
No way!
- Because? - He's only 15 years old.
- You think he's no good? - He's different.
"We should not press him. - This has a lot of advertising potential.
If a player of 15 years against Onny Parun,
The whole world will hear about it. Even if he loses it.
The youngest ever player of the Davis Cup.
- We're talking about a kid. - He's 15.
I refuse to put a player 15 years against the number 20 in the world.
"I will not." "Then I'll have to find someone to do it."
My father's gonna appeal it anyway.
But congrats on staying awake for the whole match today, boss.
Lighten up, junior. You won. Come on. Give us a smile.
- Shut the fuck up. - Fuck you.
Love-40.
THIRD ROUND BORG vs. FRAWLEY
- I can 't do this. - Calm down.
"Can't we get the game postponed?" - Postponed?
It's the Central Court. Sold off.
Björn...
- Go talk to them. - What?
Speak with them.
- Björn ... - Speak with them, I said!
It stopped raining. They will not postpone it
Use this. There is moisture in the air.
Did you talk to them?
You know I did not.
Björn ...
It doesn't help.
This is bullshit.
- Out! - It was inside!
Out. continue.
- You want him to win! - continue.
- Out. - What the hell is going on?
Out! continue!
- Out. - What a Fuck. - Come!
- Pick it Up! - No fucking way, You're cheating!
- Pick it Up. "Go to hell, you old fool!"
I told you to Pick it Up!
You are reaching your maximum form.
It is very difficult to string well the rackets?
There's nothing wrong with the rackets.
"I know when the strings are fine. "That's not the problem, and you know it.
It's all this celebrity's food. Showcases and sponsorships.
Just play tennis...
- Shut up. - What?
I said to shut up and tighten the strings. That's all you have to do.
"If I'm a slacker, fire me." - Okay!
- Are you serious? - Fuck Yeah, I'm serious.
"He does not mean it." - I'm serious!
Björn!
- What are you going to do now? "What am I going to do?"
Talk about your three bad quarterfinals?
Björn, please ...
So, Arthur, what must Björn Borg be thinking
after this sensational demonstration?
Well, if McEnroe can maintain this form,
we may very well have a new champion.
You will defeat him.
How do you know that?
I just do.
Nobody can know that.
I can explode in my next game.
They all act as if this is easy.
"Go there and win. You're a star! You will defeat him." Very easy.
"It's not easy for any of us. - Should you maybe play a match?
If it is so difficult for you, hit the road.
- Björn ... - Go.
Leave me, too.
Do not think!
I know how you feel, you know?
Sometimes I lost on purpose just to get away
that horrible feeling of the game beginning to escape me.
When I lost, I went straight to the spa. to vomit.
I could not bear to lose.
It's the same with you.
For you it is life or death.
The other boys do not feel the same.
They are not like you. That's why they'll never be as good as you can be.
But wishing so much, can also destroy you.
Three quarter-finals in Wimbledon ... No other Swede could.
In 1948, I could have won that cup.
Then I lost the first set. And the second...
I could not control my mind.
I should have switched off,
but I did not.
This Saturday, I will let you face Onny Parun,
with a condition. "I'm not going to apologize.
You do not have to ask.
But you have to promise me one thing...
Where's Björn?
Promise me that you will never return to show a single emotion.
Be like a pressure cooker and block everything else.
It simply does not exist.
All that anger,
fear and panic you feel within you,
unloads on each move,
on each right, on each left,
on each stroke.
Do you understand?
In Saturday's game there will be 5 sets.
It will be a single point.
One point at a time.
One point at a time, Björn.
But if you lose your mind and begin to pout,
will be the end of the line.
Very well.
Here inside...
Björn Borg, after defeating Onny Parun, you're conquering the world.
You're a heartbreaker and the English girls run after you.
- Has this been a problem? - Maybe a little...
The world of tennis
has never before seen anything quite like this.
But, Björn, what happens if you stop winning?
This will not happen.
- Are not you going to get tired of all the hustle and bustle? - No.
Or to repeat this battle of will and nerves, day after day?
No.
- Do you want this? - Yes.
"Is this your life?" - Yes, this is my life.
1974 As the youngest player ever, Björn wins his first French Open title
Concentrate!
1976 As the youngest player ever, Björn wins his first Wimbledon title
â™ª Fee, fi, fo, fum â™ª
- â™ª I'm looking down the barrel Of the devil's gun â™ª - Hey, Borg!
â™ª I said nowhere to run â™ª
Hey, pal, how ya doin'? Want a bottle of champagne?
- Sure. - Yeah? Far out.
Let's get some champagne over here.
â™ª Fo, fum We're looking down the barrel Of the devil's gun â™ª
â™ª Nowhere to run â™ª
â™ª We gotta make the stand Against the devil's gun â™ª
- â™ª Better make a move now â™ª - â™ª Well, well â™ª
â™ª You know there ain't No time to lose now â™ª
â™ª Oh, well The finger's on the trigger â™ª
â™ª He's waiting to deliver â™ª
â™ª Can we ever figure out a way To make the people shout? â™ª
- He sent you away? "No, he's asleep."
What are you writing? Poetry?
A book.
My wedding gift for Björn.
I was going to have a drink. You need it, too.
Must be the first time I see him. in a hotel room, without rackets.
Remember my first meeting with Björn?
He saw you play. at the French Open.
He called me from the hotel room. It looked like I was reading ...
a script out loud.
He invited me out and ...
I hoped it was just the two of us, but you were there.
He was so nervous.
It was fun.
When did we stop having fun?
We've been running around for five years. There is no middle ground for Björn.
A 2nd or 3rd place is the same as 12th or 112th. It's the same for him.
When he starts to lose ...
It's over.
Just in the car, it seemed you had given up on him.
He fired me.
But you will not be there, when he falls.
"2/7, 4:30 p.m. Coming over for the semi-final. Dad."
- Here you go. - Thank you.
Now...
Tom, multiply two numbers.
- Any two numbers? - Yes.
Thirty-two times 14.
- 448. - Now, now.
You gotta make him sweat.
122 times 46.
5,612.
Okay.
66,322 times 2,198.
You can dance to Debbie Harry?
- You're like 57 years old. - Honestly.
- The fuck do you care about my generation? - Hey, guys.
- Hey. Hey, Pete. How you doing? - Yeah, pretty excited.
So, uh, it's you and me.
John?
You ready?
- See you out there. - See you, John.
Seriously?
You still not talking to me?
Where's my ankle support?
The fuck?
Come on, John.
John, give me the ankle support.
John.
If you gentlemen would like to come this way?
40-15.
John McEnroe is slaughtering fellow countryman Peter Fleming.
I didn't take your ankle thing, you know?
I really didn't, Pete. That's not something I would do. Why...
- Fuck you, John. - Fuck me, fuck me. Fine.
Fuck me. Who cares? Fuck me. Fine.
Look, I fucking told you, man. I fucking told you. Didn't I?
- Fuck the ankle support, okay? - Are you done?
Sit down.
Hey. Are we good?
I'm gonna say this once.
You're going to win Wimbledon.
If not this year, then it's only a matter of time.
You're going to be number one.
I know it.
Okay.
But you will never be remembered as one of the greats. You know why?
John, look at me.
'Cause nobody likes you.
Not one kid out there wants to be like Johnny Mac when he grows up.
- Yeah? - Mm-hmm.
You know, in 20 years, the only thing people are gonna say is,
"Hey, what was the name of that crazy guy that always yelled at the umpire?"
You fucked up my game. I'm your friend.
Say sorry. Fuck him.
John McEnroe?
Hi, John.
How are you?
You think maybe we could ask the receptionist not to yell out my name like that
every time I come in here?
- Weren't you the only one out there? - I'm the only one out there.
It makes me feel uncomfortable, she yells my name out like that.
- I walk in here edgy. - Okay.
- Well, we don't want you edgy. - Okay.
- We want you to feel comfortable. - Thank you.
No problem.
John, you mentioned defensive.
It's your move, Dad.
How's the back?
It's the same.
He's already seen a lefty before he got here.
I mean, it's... it's not even a surprise, you know?
But he hasn't seen you.
We win.
This way, please.
- Can we touch it? - Yeah.
We push a button now, we can get billboards out before the final.
Isn't this a bit simplistic? Shouldn't we see another side of John?
What we are seeing right now is unique.
Tennis players are like rock stars.
The tabloids are having a field day with him,
but this rivalry between Borg and John
is forcing people to ask themselves, "Who am I?
The gentleman or the rebel?"
It's a beautiful morning here at Wimbledon for the men's semifinals.
Björn Borg is up against the American, Brian Gottfried.
And in a second semifinal,
a clash between two of the most controversial figures of tennis today,
John McEnroe and fellow countryman Jimmy Connors.
First serve, Wimbledon semifinal.
Love-15.
15-40.
Game and second set to Gottfried. One set all.
Björn Borg is having a tough time against Gottfried.
Unexpectedly tough.
Listen to those jeers.
I can't remember a single Wimbledon match where the crowd has made this much noise.
Out.
- Out. - Wha...
Excuse me?
It wasn't on this side of the line, Mr. McEnroe.
- The chalk flew up. - The ball has been ruled out.
- Excuse me? - It was a good call. It was a bit of a scramble.
You can't be serious. You cannot be serious!
The ball was on the line! Chalk flew up all over, man!
Chalk flew up! He saw it.
That's why he's walking all over it. Everyone saw it was in.
You cannot possibly call that out.
I'm going to issue you a warning for unsportsmanlike behavior, Mr. McEnroe.
Borg isn't playing any great tennis,
but it's enough to beat the unseeded American Gottfried.
Congratulations on reaching the finals.
So it's either Jimmy Connors or John McEnroe that awaits you now.
How do you respond to McEnroe's comment from before the tournament
that Borg, the machine, will soon break down?
I... I'm just like, uh, anybody else.
I'm not a machine.
Just one more word!
You guys are the pits of the world.
You keep your mouth shut. Keep your mouth shut.
Why don't you stay on your side? No one's talking to you.
- I'm talking to you. - Shut the fuck up. No one's talking to you.
Fuckin' asshole.
Yeah, I'm so fucking disgusting. Go home then!
- Play some tennis! - Shut the fuck up!
Go play tennis by yourself.
John, congratulations on your victory today.
- What do you have to say about your behavior? - Can we talk about my tennis?
Are you worried about the reputation you've gained over here?
People are talking more about your behavior than your tennis.
You're certainly talking more about my behavior than my tennis.
- Do you think it's valid? - No.
But do you have any regrets about your behavior?
I mean, I regret I gotta sit here and talk to you. That's all I regret.
Do you expect anyone to root for you in the final against Borg?
Look, I get that, uh, you got your hero.
Your gentleman, Borg, and you need a villain.
- Do you think you'll be able to keep your temper? - Let's talk about tennis.
Does anybody have tennis questions?
Do you enjoy being a villain? Do you feel it helps you?
- You think you'll keep your temper? - Shut the fuck up, man.
- Are you watching the matches? - Yes, I'm watching the matches.
You don't understand what the fuck it takes to play tennis.
Do you know I go up there, I give everything for this game?
Everything. Everything in me gets left out on that fucking court.
And none of you understand because none of you do it.
Mr. Borg?
We arrived.
Where are we?
How was the flight? You look great.
This is the crew from Argentina.
Pleasure to meet you. I'm Silvana Ruíz of Argentina Television.
Björn.
Let's start by saying: The best tennis player in the world.
Has won Wimbledon 4 times and is in search of the fifth title.
As a child you would play against the garage door. Would you show us?
I can't remember which door.
Well, can't you just pick one? They all look alike.
No, it has to be the right one.
Wait. Wait, please. Wait with the camera.
- Björn, I don't really think it's all that important. - It's very important.
I have to think.
Please, Mr. Borg.
You won twice this afternoon, in Wimbledon. How do you feel?
I feel good.
Go away, Labbe.
Breathe.
Let's finish this together.
Stop feeling sorry for yourself. You're acting like ...
You're acting like a kid.
Treating people who like you as trash.
Go out there, Lower your head and you'll lose.
Is that what you want? Stop it all?
So give him an easy win. Say you pulled a muscle.
"Or admit that your nerves-" - Stop! Stop!
I know what you're doing.
It is not necessary.
Everything I've done, led me to this moment.
One last match.
One point at a time.
That.
Five minutes, gentlemen.
It's almost time of the Wimbledon final ...
- Turn down the volume on McEnroe, Mike. - What?
- But they switch sides all the time. - That's an order from the top.
It's the perfect rivalry...
the baseline player and the net rusher.
Calm and steady ...
Nordic cold blood and the impetuous New Yorker...
Ice Borg versus SuperBrat.
15,000 spectators.
Hundreds of millions at home by their TV's.
The whole world waits for these two giants to enter...
as two gladiators.
Gentlemen.
First out is McEnroe.
The crowd is booing him.
That's a first in a Wimbledon final.
Here comes Björn. The Swedish people are cheering for you.
There he is... Björn Borg, the emperor.
This court belongs to him.
The final we've all been waiting for.
Borg, a legend in his own lifetime.
Tremendous pressure on him today.
He's won it four times, but the fifth time, I'm sure,
will be even harder.
Quiet, please. Quiet, please.
McEnroe to serve.
Ready? Play.
15-love.
There's the talent in McEnroe in the opening point.
40-love.
And there's Borg's blistering return of serve.
40-15.
- Game to McEnroe. - First game of the match goes to McEnroe.
McEnroe's serve and volley decides the first game.
Out.
McEnroe takes the game!
What a fantastic start for McEnroe.
McEnroe to serve.
Game, McEnroe.
Borg really having difficulty with McEnroe's left-handed serve.
Like trying to catch hummingbirds.
Borg looks shell-shocked.
McEnroe is humiliating Borg, and he's making him look slow.
Borg is being rammed up by McEnroe!
Sad to say, but it looks like we have a new king on the throne.
McEnroe Set Point
Game and first set to McEnroe, six games to one.
Björn Borg is in trouble.
Trouble in Sweden.
New balls, please.
Time.
Second set, Borg to serve.
Come on, Björn!
- Come on, Björn! - Quiet, please.
One point at a time.
Point Borg! An unbelievable serve.
My God!
That's the Borg we know.
- Out. - Game to Borg.
We're seeing a completely different Borg in the second set.
There it is!
Björn Borg takes himself to set point.
Game and second set to Borg,
seven games to five.
This is exactly what Björn Borg wants.
And McEnroe seems out of touch.
It's a big momentum raiser when you come from behind like Borg has done,
and it tends to undermine your opponent's confidence.
40-15.
So that's Borg, two set points.
- Out! - Game and third set to Borg.
And there it is... Björn Borg wins the third set,
and he leads two sets to one.
So, there's going to be a fourth set now.
If Borg wins it, he can call himself five-time Wimbledon champion.
FOURTH SET
- Fault! - Fault called.
I thought it was good. McEnroe thought it was good.
30-40.
- Fuck. - Second double fault.
out!
It's only a matter of time, before McEnroe has one of his famous attacks.
Out.
I believe the umpire's wrong about that call.
How will McEnroe react to this?
30-15.
Let's go, John!
Time.
It's all right. It's a great match.
Just play your tennis.
Ace, McEnroe!
McEnroe's getting stronger as the set goes on.
McEnroe has the game. A 3-2 lead in the fourth set.
- Just out. - Come on, John.
The pressure is now all on the Swede.
Game to Borg.
He has the game. Five-all.
It's out.
Björn Borg is in the lead.
And ace for Borg.
He can almost taste the championship now.
Hit that right for 40-15. And it's match point for Björn.
So here it is, championship point.
Two match points in the Final of a Grand Slam.
Björn Borg never wasted this.
Quiet, please.
Oh, no, fault called.
Quiet, please.
Second serve.
One point at a time, one point at a time ...
- McEnroe Lives!
He saves the first match point.
Second championship point for Borg.
Strength, Björn!
- So close! - Balls!
- Two match points lost. - Deuce!
Borg's got to try not to think about those lost match points now.
McEnroe!
Break point for John McEnroe.
Quiet, please.
- Quiet, please. - What a moment this is for Borg.
He stands to serve, having lost two match points.
McEnroe is back in the match, now with a chance to make it even.
John McEnroe has snatched it away from Borg
just like that!
Six games all. Tiebreak now comes into operation.
No men's final has ever ended in a tiebreaker.
And for viewers who are not familiar with tennis:
a tie-break is a final match that determines the result of the set.
The first to get 7 points, wins.
But a two point lead is needed to win.
Björn Borg has taken himself to another championship point.
Match Point for Björn.
McEnroe says no once again. What determination!
There's the greatness of Borg.
Just one fleeting opportunity, and it's through like a rapier.
Championship point number four.
Oh, John McEnroe!
He has ripped four match points from Björn Borg!
That American is playing well!
He has set point.
Now McEnroe has the chance to turn this whole thing upside down.
Ball.
Come on, Björn.
Björn did it!
If either man took any more punishment,
if this were a heavyweight boxing match, they'd stop the fight.
Sixth match point for Björn.
Seventh match point.
If Borg wins this point, the roof will blow off the Centre Court.
Come on, Björn!
Quiet, please.
Borg got so close, but McEnroe just won't give in.
Both men have looked down the barrel of the gun and they're both still alive.
I don't think I've ever seen a tiebreak like this.
McEnroe again says no!
Set point for McEnroe.
The linesman calls it out!
15-all.
I can't believe it.
The score is 15-all.
Yes!
This tension is almost torture.
I can not stand it, Labbe.
No!
Yes!
Good!
It's dead even!
- Come on! - Incredible!
McEnroe wins the tiebreak, 18-16.
Björn Borg has lost seven match points.
And what must Borg be thinking?
That elusive fifth championship almost within his reach,
but stolen away from him seven times.
The result is 2-2.
McEnroe is not only back in the game, how has been better.
Oh my God!
What's happening?
This is nothing short of unbelievable.
No one can recover after losing seven match points in a Wimbledon final.
But Borg is playing like nothing happened.
And now it's all about heart.
Hearts beating on either side of the net.
They can hit the ball.
It's up to the hearts.
So once again, match point, Borg.
I'm lighting a cigar. A cigar of victory, I hope ...
Damn! He did it again!
Five times in a row!
I believe this is the greatest achievement in Swedish sports!
Game, set, and championship to Borg.
Unbelievable...
And now, ladies and gentlemen, the runner-up of Wimbledon 1980,
John Patrick McEnroe.
Here he comes.
Standing ovation for McEnroe,
whose behavior today was beyond reproach.
John Patrick McEnroe is not a champion today,
but he has finally won the hearts of Great Britain.
And Borg, king of the tennis world, without a doubt.
- Well played. - Thank you.
Thank you.
Thanks.
Thank you. Thank you.
â™ª They go like the last night Of the sun â™ª
â™ª All in a blaze â™ª
â™ª And all you see Is glory â™ª
â™ª People lust for fame â™ª
â™ª Like athletes in a game â™ª
â™ª They break their collarbones And come up swinging â™ª
â™ª Some of them are downed â™ª
â™ª Some of them are crowned â™ª
â™ª Some are lost And never found â™ª
â™ª But most have seen it all â™ª
â™ª They live their lives In sad cafÃ©s â™ª
â™ª And music halls â™ª
â™ª And they always have a story â™ª
â™ª Some make it When they're young â™ª
â™ª Before the world Has done its dirty job â™ª
â™ª And later on Someone will say â™ª
â™ª "You've had your day â™ª
â™ª Now you must make way" â™ª
â™ª They'll never know the pain Of living â™ª
Shouldn't you be in there?
Can we leave?
Can we?
We can do whatever we want.
Oh, shit.
Fuck.
Really... congratulations.
- Thank you. - Yeah.
- Good match. - Yeah.
Thought you had me.
Almost. Yeah.
Maybe next year.
- Thanks. - Yeah, thanks.
You hug people? What's up? Come on. Here.
- All right, man. - Safe trip.
A year later, John became world's ranking Number 1 and he defeates Björn in the Wimbledon's final
In the same year Björn decided to end his tennis career
He was only 26 years old
Later, Björn and John became close friends
Björn was the Best Man at John Wedding
once rivals, then best friends
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