In a recent interview, tennis legend Bjorn Borg revealed that he harbored no ill feelings towards Rafael Nadal for surpassing his all-time record at the French Open. Borg, a dominant force at Roland Garros in the 1970s and early 1980s, had won the prestigious clay Grand Slam six times between 1974 and 1981, setting a record that stood for three decades.
“I always believed that one day someone would come and do better than me at Roland Garros. Records are there to be broken,” Borg stated in an interview with Tennis Magazin. Reflecting on Nadal’s incredible success at the French Open, Borg acknowledged the Spaniard’s unmatched prowess on clay courts. “Rafa comes along and wins 14 times. You will never see another player who is so good on clay,” he added.
Nadal, who made his professional debut at the ATP 250 tournament in Bastad at just 17 years old, caught the attention of fans and experts alike with his exceptional talent. Borg, who was present at the tournament, remembers hearing whispers about the young Nadal being touted as the next big thing in tennis.
Since officially becoming the all-time French Open record holder in 2012, Nadal has continued to add to his impressive tally of titles at Roland Garros. With a total of 14 French Open trophies to his name, the Spanish sensation has cemented his legacy as one of the greatest clay court players in the history of the sport.
