Tennis great Björn Borg says he is taking life “day by day, year by year” after being diagnosed with an “extremely aggressive” form of prostate cancer, a revelation he saved for the final chapter of his new autobiography, reported AP. The 69-year-old, who underwent surgery in 2024 and is now in remission, told BBC Breakfast and later spoke to news outlets about the emotional toll of the diagnosis and the way he approaches follow-up testing. Diagnosis, treatment and life in remissionIn Heartbeats: A Memoir, co-written with his wife Patricia, Borg writes candidly about being told his cancer was “at its most advanced stage.” He said his doctor warned of “sleeping cancer cells” and told him it would be a fight in the years ahead, a battle Borg vowed to meet with familiar resolve. “I will fight every day like it’s a Wimbledon final,” he said. After an operation in 2024, Borg reports the cancer is in remission, but he stressed that regular six-monthly tests are now part of his life. A champion’s mindsetBorg has long been associated with an ice-calm competitive temperament and a refusal to surrender on court. Now, he applies that same mentality to his health. Asked about the psychological impact, Borg conceded the diagnosis was “difficult psychologically,” but he countered that determination with pragmatism: tests, check-ups and an acceptance that his future will involve vigilant monitoring. The comparison to a Grand Slam final is more than rhetoric, it’s a metaphor he’s leaned on to frame the daily grind of recovery and watchful living. Also Read: Björn Borg Shares His Experience Of Living With Prostate CancerRemembering the peak: Wimbledon, McEnroe and early retirementBorg remains one of tennis’s defining figures: 11 Grand Slam singles titles, including five consecutive Wimbledon crowns and six French Open triumphs, a run that cemented his status as a dominant force in the 1970s and early 1980s. His 1980 Wimbledon final against John McEnroe, the near four-hour epic in which McEnroe saved seven championship points, is frequently cited among the sport’s greatest matches; Borg called it “the most satisfying match I ever played.” People reported the rivalry with McEnroe, branded “Fire and Ice,” later warmed into friendship: the two now see one another socially and speak about modern tennis rather than merely their past encounters. The aftermath of early fameBorg’s decision to retire unexpectedly in his mid-20s surprised the tennis world. In his memoir he explains that burnout, loss of motivation and a lack of a life plan contributed to a turbulent post-tennis period that included substance use and near-fatal incidents in the late 1980s and early 1990s. He writes openly about those years as part of a broader effort to explain who he is away from the court and how he rebuilt his life. Today, he says he’s “very happy with myself” after years of recovery and self-repair. Looking forward: small steps, familiar gritBorg’s account is both a personal reckoning and an implicit reminder about the importance of medical vigilance. He told interviewers that after the operation he has regular blood tests and scans, and that living with the possibility of recurrence is something he faces with the same focus he once reserved for match day. While he acknowledges the psychological weight of the diagnosis, his message is quiet but unambiguous: tackle each test, each day, with determination, and keep moving forward.
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