On September 18, Swedish tennis legend Bjorn Borg announced he is fighting an aggressive form of prostate cancer. In his autobiography, “Heartbeats: A Memoir,” co-authored with his wife Patricia, Borg revealed that he underwent surgery in 2024 and is currently in remission.

Borg, the 11-time Grand Slam champion known for his five consecutive Wimbledon titles and six French Open victories, made the shocking revelation while highlighting his ongoing battle. “I spoke to the doctor and he said this is really, really bad,” Borg told the BBC. Despite regular check-ups over the years, the cancer was only detected in 2023.

“It’s a fight for the future,” Borg explained. “I’ve got to live with it, testing myself every six months. My last test was two weeks ago.” He remains hopeful, saying, “I hope that I’m going to be OK. I take it day by day, year by year, hopefully.”

Borg’s illustrious career ended abruptly when he retired at 26. He attempted a short-lived comeback in 1991 but couldn’t regain his dominance. During his prime, his rivalry with John McEnroe produced some of tennis’s most memorable matches, including their legendary 1980 Wimbledon final.

“Now I have a new opponent — cancer — that I can’t control,” Borg shared in his memoir. “But I’m going to beat it like every day is a Wimbledon final. And those usually go pretty well, don’t they?”