Drugs, Existential Void, Near-Death: The Harsh Downfall of Björn Borg

A global star at 20, retired at 26, and then plunged into the hell of drugs, Björn Borg delivers a poignant testimony in his memoirs. Why did the Swedish prodigy, winner of 11 Grand Slams, leave everything at the peak of his glory? An intimate confession that sends chills down the spine and reveals a truth much darker than the world imagined.

In his autobiography Heartbeats, co-written with his wife Patricia, the Swede reveals for the first time the darkness he went through after leaving the circuit.

"I had had enough. I lost my motivation and interest. If I had known what was going to happen in the years that followed, I would have continued to play tennis. I had no plan. Drugs, pills, alcohol appeared: it was all to escape reality. I came close to death several times. Today, players have all kinds of tools and guides at their disposal. I was lost in the world."

But Borg's story does not end in darkness. Over the years, he rebuilt his life. He finds peace, starts a family, and returns to a balance he thought lost.

"I've arranged my life and now I am very happy with myself," he concludes.