Tennis story by Brian Watters, Sat, 04 Mar 2006 02:56:00 GMT


Bjorn Borg, the Swedish legend who wowed Wimbledon with his charm and powerful tennis is to sell off his five trophies for "financial security." The former world no 1, who retired at 26 is known to have amassed close to £40 million during his career, but was forced to declare bankruptcy after he went through two divorces.

The Wimbledon trophies, which were won in consecutive years from 1976 to 1980, are expected to fetch £200,000 to £300,000. "Obviously it is not easy to part with the trophies that symbolize all the tremendous effort, both physically and emotionally, that it took to win Wimbledon on five occasions," Borg said in a statement.

"However, I do need to have some long-term financial security for those close to me and now believe that the time is right for the trophies and racquets to pass to either a tennis collector or a suitable institution where they can be appreciated by a wider number of people."

The 49-year-old Borg, known as The Iceman, also won the French Open six times in a career that glittered in the 70s. This is apparently the first time that a Wimbledon champion has put up his trophies for auction, a statement that perhaps underlines Borg's financial situation.

“Even though the symbols of my victories are being sold, what I will always retain is the knowledge that for such a long period I was the supreme world tennis champion," Borg's statement added. All items will go under the hammer at Bonhams, London, in June.

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