On This Day: Bjorn Borg breaks through to No. 1 debut

No 1 Club

On This Day: Borg breaks through to No. 1 debut

Swede surpassed rival Connors for top spot

Allsport UK Bjorn Borg debuted atop the PIF ATP Rankings in August 1977, seven weeks after beating Jimmy Connors to win Wimbledon. By Arthur Kapetanakis

Bjorn Borg first climbed to No. 1 in the PIF ATP Rankings for a single week, at the age of 21 on 23 August 1977. The Swede was the two-time reigning Wimbledon champion at that time and had also advanced to the US Open final the previous year.

Borg’s week at No. 1 broke up two lengthy stints at the top for Jimmy Connors, who held the position for 160 weeks before and 84 weeks after his rival’s debut at the summit. Seven weeks before rising to No. 1, Borg beat Connors in the Wimbledon final, setting up his short-lived overtaking of the American.

Approaching rock-star status in his popularity even before his No. 1 debut, Borg was known for his ice-cool composure on the court. In addition to his cultural significance, he and Connors ushered in the era of the double-handed backhand, excelling from the baseline in an era previously dominated by serve-and-volleyers.

Borg was the fourth player to rise to the top of the PIF ATP Rankings after their introduction in 1973, following Ilie Nastase, John Newcombe and Connors.

Through the end of the 1977 season, Borg won 12 tour-level singles titles, including the Monte-Carlo crown. That trophy haul is second only to his 13 in 1979 — the first of two consecutive years he finished as World No. 1. In 1980, he twice ceded the top spot to John McEnroe before reclaiming it for good in August.

From July 1974 through February 1983, Borg, Connors and McEnroe were the only players to occupy the No. 1 spot. Ivan Lendl eventually broke the monopoly in 1983, the year Borg stunned the tennis world by retiring at age 26.

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