Tennis: John McEnroe, Bjorn Borg Turn Back the Clock to Help for the Future

They are a little gray of hair and long in the tooth, but the two icons still know how to fill a house and bring back the memories.  So it was on Thursday night, at the Sportime Tennis Facility on Randall’s Island in New York, that John McEnroe faced his old rival Bjorn Borg for the first time in New York since the early 1980s.  Ironically, it was not nostalgia night for World TeamTennis, but a fundraiser for the future of the sport (the John McEnroe Tennis Academy) that brought McEnroe and Borg back together.  Regardless of the reason, it was a memorable mid-July night for all of the capacity crowd of just over 2,300 in attendance.

“We are friends for a long time, and when John asked I would never say no to help,” Borg said during a pre-match press conference.  “This is a great facility and a great cause and it's in New York, so if I can help, I always will.”

Borg was a fill-in for the night, taking a slot that Jimmy Connors was supposed to have had before withdrawing due to injury.  McEnroe’s next ask at the last minute was to Borg, who accepted the challenge while the two were in St. Tropez last week.  “Bjorn would have been my No. 1 choice,” McEnroe said.

“He was the only guy above what Jimmy was bringing.”

No, it wasn’t the over-the-top celebrity extravaganza that the US Open is, but it had its own celebrity cache including Billie Jean King, actress Holly Hunter, former Mayor David Dinkins and an assortment of uber models and beautiful people.  It even had a visit from Hans Backe, fellow Swede and coach of the New York Red Bulls, who presented Borg and McEnroe, both big soccer fans, with jerseys reflective of their number of Grand Slam titles, 11 for Bjorn, 17 for Johnny Mac.

As far as the tennis went, it had its share of rallies and well-placed shots, with McEnroe eventually taking the set 5-4 (although the Freedoms won the night from Mac's New York Sportimes, 21-19, overall).  Fans were entertained, funds were raised, and a larger than normal group got to experience the fun atmosphere of World TeamTennis in a gleaming facility just a stone’s throw from Manhattan proper.

“It was great to be back here and play in front of such an enthusiastic crowd,” Borg added afterwards.  “John can still play very well and probably plays a little more than me, but I am very glad I could be here to help out and be involved in something like this.”

The crowd did not seem to mind the less than frenetic pace of the tennis.  Everyone wanted to be entertained and pulled back to an era gone by, with two charismatic personalities who can still charm and enthrall even the most casual of sports fan.  It was retro pop culture at its best, with two rivals re-stirring the competitive juices, looking fit and healthy as any athlete can be when they get north of 50.  A step slower, maybe, but nonetheless competitive.

The night also served as a reminder for both the young people in attendance watching and those WTT teammates like Martina Hingis and Jesse Witten of what the future can hold when the best playing days are gone.  A future of grace, respect and elegance, with the life lessons of tennis mixed in.

“It is always great to share the court with Bjorn, and to help us bring in extra dollars for assisting young people to play the game is an even added plus," McEnroe added.

Older yes, these two champions, but not any less thrilling for the public on a great night for the sport.

Jerry Milani is a Featured Columnist for Bleacher Report. All quotes were obtained first-hand.