Bjorn Borg, Stefan Edberg and Mats Wilander were household names in tennis. The 3 greatest Swedish players ever combined to win 24 Grand Slam titles between them. Bjorn dominated the late 1970's and early 1980's winning 5 consecutive Wimbledon crowns. Wilander hit his peak in the late 1980's, achieving the world number 1 ranking in 1989. Stefan Edberg was also dominant in the late 1980's and early 1990's. Unfortunately for tennis, the 3 now retired greats never met in the same tournament. This Thursday in Stockholm, the 3 will meet in an exhibition match for the first and possibly last time.
Fans will be given a treat in seeing these 3 players go head to head in singles matches. Bjorn Borg and Mats Wilander are currently playing on the seniors tour. But Borg, 43 will be retiring from all competitive tennis at the end of this year. Edberg meanwhile says he has no plans to join the seniors tour when he reaches the required age, having played tennis competitively for 15 consecutive years prior to his retirement.
So this will not only be the first, but probably the last time the 3 greats will be seen by fans in action against each other. The unrelenting consistency of Borg and Wilander's ground strokes and passing shots pitted against the rapid serve and volley attack of Edberg would be a sight to see. It is the privilege of the fans are attending the tournament to see these champions in action once again.
Tournament News
Lleyton Hewitt has won his 3rd career title, and his second in his home town of Adelaide with a 3 set victory over top tenner Thomas Enqvist. The Aussie avenged his loss in last year's final to the Swede by winning 3-6, 6-3, 6-2. Hewitt has continued his good form, reaching the quarter-finals of the NSW Open at the time of this article's release.
French Davis Cup star Fabrice Santoro has beaten Rainer Schuttler by 3-6, 7-5, 3-0 after the German retired with an injury.
Finally in Chennai, more French success with Jerome Golmard beating Markus Hantschk by 6-3, 6-7 (6-8), 6-3.
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