Apartfrom Mmbledon, what is your happiest memory?

Bjorn Borg - Another of my happiest memories is, without: a doubt, when I won my two singles matches against Czechoslovakia in the 1975 Davis Cup. We really didn't think we could win - Sweden is such a small country - it seemed quite incredible. So, I think, with Wimbledon, those are the two victories which count the most for me.

Why doesn't Bjorn Borg play doubles more often?

Bjorn is a super doubles player. But in major tournaments the doubles matches are often played late in the evening. Bjorn needs a lot of sleep and so I prefer not to see him play late at night when he has a match the following day.

How many times have you been beaten in singles matches at Wimbledon?

Bjorn Borg - Only three times. Roger Taylor beat me in the 19 73 quarter-finais, Ismael Lel Shafei in the third. round in 1974 and Arthur Ashe in the quarter-finais in 1975. At the moment I have won twenty-eight consecutive matches at Wimbledon. It would be nice to beat Rod Laver's record of thirty-one. He won Wimbledon in 1961, 1962, 1968, 1969 and was eventually defeated in the fourth round in 1970 by Roger Taylor.

Would it be true to say that one of your great ambitíons ís to win the US Open?

Bjom Borg - Well, my goal for the future is to win a lot of big titles and make records. But I must admit that the US Open is proving an elusive title for me.

What was Your greatest disappointment?

Bjorn Borg - There was one in particular I didn't enjoy, it was when I lost the 1976 US Open against Cormors in the final, at Forest Hills. I lost in four close sets. We were one set afl and 1 had four or five set points to be 2-1 up. I knew if 1 won that set I would probably win the match, because I could féel Jimmy was a little tired. It's very important to win the third set. ' You always feel better when you've won it - I was very disappointed after that match. I´ve never won that tournament and I´d like to one day.

What do you think of Flushing Meadow?

Biorn Borg - Well, it is an impressive tennis complex with a magnificent main stadium. But I would not be honest if I did not say that the noíse of the aircraft is disturbing. I think most of the players feel the same. Also I cannot say that I enjoy playing night matches under flood lights.

How do you explain your defeat at Flushing Meadow in 1978?

Biorn Borg - Firstly, Jimmy Connors was playing very well. Everything he did that day worked. In the final he produced his best tennis. I didn't play so well - it happens from time to time - so I lost.

Did the noise from the aeroplanes bother you a lot?

Bjorn Borg - Yes, of course, there was a 'plane every few minutes. It's off-putting, but it's offputting for both players.

And wasnt there something wrong with your thumb, as well?

Biorn Bonq - Yes. In the semi-final against -Gerulaitis I got a blister which became infected, and in the evening it was quite swollen. The morning before the match I could hard1y hold my racket. So of course that made problems during the match. lt's just a pity it had to happen in the final.

Can you analyse your match against Clerc in the semi-final here at Monte Carlo? Why do you think he didn't manage to beat yott after he had won thefirst set?

Bjorn Borg - I think that whenever I beat him, it's because at that moment at least I´m better than him. I think a clay court suits him very well, and in that match he played just like Vilas and I do, using a great deal of top-spin. But I don't think he's powerful enough yet to play a whole match flke he did the first set, which he played very well. It was a slow surface with long rallies and 1 think he got tired faster than I did.

When you are physically tired, you soon become mentally tired, and then you start to have trouble concentrating. When you're tired you're less patient during rallies. You take risks. And taking risks, in the long run, almost always means losing.

What did you feel like after losing the first set?

Bjorn Borg - At first I was disappointed, but I knew he had played really well, and perhaps I hadn't played as well as I could have. But after afi, it was the first set and there's a long way to go after that. I wasn't worried. You really start to worry at match point when you're 5-1 or 5-2 down. So I told myself there were still two sets to go, and I would have to play well. My shots from. the base line improved at the beginning of the second set and, above all, I could see he was beginning to get tired. He was missing more shots, and I won the second set. In the third he was even more tired and made even more mistakes. So I won the third set too.

What do yott think of exhibition matches?

Bjorn Borg - You can't compare an exhibition match to a big tournament, but you play in exact1y the same way, as if it were a final. Both players want to win. lf I play Connors, MeEnroe, or Vilas in an exhibition, I´ll do my best to beat them. Most players prefer the big tournaments to the exhibition matches, they only do a iew a year.

Will you be pleased if you win at the tournament in Monte Carlo again?

Bjorn Borg - Of course, because at Monte Carlo I am at home. My parents come as well and we all enjoy it.

Do you think ¡t js because of your qualities as an athlete that you have become a great player?

Bjorn Borg - My opinion is that the important thing in tennis is to keep moving, to get about the court. 0therwise you won't get to the ball soon enough to get a proper shot in. I think Fm lucky enough to be a fast mover, and that's a real trump card. Of course you have to be absolutely physically fit as well. And I am. I can play for four or five hours with no difficulty. For five-set matches, that's vital. There are v'ery good players who tire in the fourth or fifth set, and when it's hot and you're tired, you lose. Yes, fun very fit. If I take a holiday and play no tennis at all, I go for a run every day to keep fit. You have to be in very good condition physically, especially on clay courts where you have to be patient and play long railies for hours.

So to beat you, a player would have to be faster than you?

Biorn Borg - You're asking a difficult question. Look at all the good players: Connors, McEnroe, Gerulaitis, Vilas, they're very fast on court. lf I play twenty per cent below my top form, I lose. lt may appear easy to a spectator. But I can assure you that it's very hard to play all the time at your top capacity, especially in the big tournaments on grass or on cement where things go even faster. Yes, you have to be very fast. You can train by improving your running. I often do. I jog, sprint for ten metres, run on the spot and then sprint again for five metres. That's exactly what happens on court. You have to practise starting, stopping and starting again.

Do you think your ability to anticipate is one of your best qualitíes?

Bjorn Borg - Some players can anticipate, others have difficulty. fm lucky, I have this ability to anticipate. I can sometimes tell where my opponent is going to place the ball. Sometirnes, toe, when you're in difficulty at the net, you take a gamble and go to one side. Most of the time it's the right one.

Courtesy: Fernand Nathan-Gerard Germain-Gerard Hirsch-Emile Benhamou.