Björn Borg’s Memoir “Heartbeat” Explores Life Beyond Tennis
Björn Borg’s new memoir, “Heartbeat,” opens with the intense account of being rushed to a Dutch hospital in the 1990s due to an overdose involving “alcohol, drugs, pills—my favorite way of self-medication.” The memoir ends with the revelation of his prostate cancer diagnosis.
“That’s good,” Borg, 69, mentioned in a recent video chat from his Stockholm home, “to have a good start and a good ending.”
This 292-page book, published in the U.S. by Detour Books on September 23, unveils aspects of his love life, various adventures, and moments of regret, alongside reflections on some of his 11 Grand Slam matches.
Borg’s Tennis Career Cut Short
Borg, a famously private individual, often kept much to himself during his tennis career. He reminisces about losing the Wimbledon and US Open Finals in 1981, a realization that marked the end of his career.
“All I could think about was how miserable my life has become,” he writes, reflecting on his feelings during that time.
At 25 years old, having briefly returned to the sport, Borg did not participate in any more Grand Slam events after the 1981 US Open.
Following that final, in a tournament he never managed to win, he recalls unwinding with a beer in his Long Island pool, planning a celebration. “When I lost the final, I wasn’t upset or sad. That’s not me. I hate losing,” he revealed.
“My head was spinning,” he continued. “And I knew I was going to leave tennis.”
Borg’s Turmoil on Court
He shares how he earned the moniker “Iceborg” for his calm demeanor on the court, contrasting himself with the more fiery personalities like John McEnroe and Jimmy Connors. However, he admits that his calmness stemmed from “bitter experiences” he encountered as a child, rather than being a natural trait.
“I acted so badly on the tennis court. I was cursing, cheating, doing everything you could think of,” he recalls during a video interview.
He recounts being banned from his hometown tennis club for six months and how that impacted him: “When I returned, I was scared to speak up. I had to learn to control my emotions on the court.” This, he says, took years of practice.
Confronting Addiction and Overdoses
Borg also discusses his struggles with panic attacks and substance use, noting that it all began in 1982.
“When I first tried cocaine, I got the same rush as when I played tennis,” he explains in the book. But he also confronts his “worst shame,” recalling looking up from his hospital bed in the Netherlands to see his father.
He clarifies that a previous overdose in Italy in 1989 was not a suicide attempt, calling it an accident.
“A stupid decision to get involved in this kind of thing. It really destroys you,” he expressed. “I was happy to flee from tennis and that life, but I had no clear idea of what to do next.”
Borg Names Notable Figures in His Memoir
Throughout his memoir, Borg mentions a variety of notable figures.
Before the US Open in 1977, he recalls suffering a shoulder injury while water-skiing. He also mentions facing the fear of death during the 1981 US Open, stories that paint a vivid picture of the pressures he faced.
His memoir navigates through various encounters, from delivering messages to Yasser Arafat to referencing celebrities like Donald Trump and Tina Turner, creating a tapestry of experiences that go beyond tennis.
“People will be very surprised at what really happened,” Borg stated. “I went through so much, and writing this book feels like a relief. There are no more secrets.”
