10 all-time Tennis greats and the trophies missing from their cabinets

#6. Bjorn Borg- Australian Open and US Open

Borg lost four US Open finals and had a poor outing in his only Australian Open appearance

One of the greatest players in tennis history, Bjorn Borg is undoubtedly the greatest tennis player that Sweden has ever produced. Known for his powerful groundstrokes and his unusually unorthodox backhand, Borg had a win percentage of 82.74 throughout his entire career and was at the top of the ATP rankings for a total of 109 weeks. Borg won a total of 64 career titles that included eleven Grand Slam titles and two World Tour Finals. His eleven Grand Slam titles included six French Open titles and five Wimbledon titles. Borg won both the French Open and Wimbledon for three successive years and captured three Grand Slams without losing a set.However, the Swede never won an Australian Open or a US Open title in his short but illustrious career. He only made one appearance at the Australian Open as a teenager in 1974 where he exited in the third round to ninth seed and eventual runner-up Phil Dent.

In the US Open, Borg made it to the final on four occasions in 1976, 1978, 1980, and 1981. After winning the Wimbledon in 1976, Borg was considered an overwhelming favorite for the US Open and was the second seed heading into the tournament.

After beating Ilie Nastase in the semi-finals which was a rematch of the Wimbledon final, Borg was now up against top seed Jimmy Connors. Connors won the match in four sets by the scoreline of 6-4, 3-6, 7-6, 6-4 to clinch his second US Open title.

His next final came two years later, in 1978 where he was the top seed and once again he was up against Connors who was the second seed. This time, Connors had even a more comfortable victory as he demolished Borg in straight sets by the scoreline of 6-4, 6-2, 6-2.

His next final was in 1980 when he was once again the top seed and was expected to win the tournament, having won both the French Open and the Wimbledon. This time, Borg was up against reigning champion John McEnroe.

McEnroe won the opening two sets 7-6, 6-1 but Borg held his nerve and levelled the match by taking the third and fourth set before McEnroe prevailed 6-4 in the fifth set to win his second US Open title.

Borg’s last appearance at the US Open final came in the following year where he once again faced McEnroe. Borg took the first set 6-4 but McEnroe bounced back and took the next three sets to clinch his third consecutive US Open title.

25 at that time, Borg wouldn’t play another Grand Slam and occupational burnout due to the pressure and constant attention he was getting eventually took its toll on him and forced him to retire prematurely at the age of 26.