Borg McEnroe is a sports biography film based on the titanic clash in 1980 between two of tennis’s biggest stars of that time — the ever enthusiastic American, John McEnroe, and the brooding Swede, Bjorn Borg. Both were at the top of their game at the time, but couldn’t be more different in their public personas, making the rivalry and the culminating match one of the most famous ones in tennis history.
Borg was often called ‘Ice Man’ for his unwavering focus in the game and his silent, brooding and introverted personality. McEnroe, on the other hand, was known for his confrontational behaviour on court, even though he is considered one of the best players in the history of the sport.
Gulf News tabloid! spoke to Sverrir Gudnason during the ongoing Dubai International Film Festival. The actor plays the role of Borg in the drama. According to reports, Gudnason was considered the best cast choice for playing the tennis champion, owing to the Swede’s uncanny physical and facial similarities to the real Borg.
However, when asked if he ever played sports, Gudnason laughed, saying: “Definitely not. I was never into any kind of sport at all. That was a big challenge for me, to get into the life of an athlete and to have to play the sport.”
Gudnason underwent six months of training, which included tennis coaching for two hours daily and physical training for up to four hours daily, to get into shape for the role. Borg was at the top of his game at the time the movie is set in and Gudnason couldn’t slack.
Borg’s rival, John McEnroe is played by Shia LaBeouf in the film.
“He comes into each movie with so much power, so much passion. He is determined to create a good role and a good film, and I think Shia is a fantastic actor and a very nice person,” Gudnason said, when quizzed about his co-star.
Living legend McEnroe has publicly spoken out against the movie and has been quoted by the Telegraph as saying, “They made up some stuff. There is plenty of stuff — if they wanted to make me look like a jerk at times, they could have come up with something far better than they came up with, in my humble estimation”.
Gudnason, however, says he understands the emotion behind the statement.
“We made the movie with a big heart, for both John and Borg, as a tribute. Of course, it is hard to see yourself in a movie, I get that. Borg liked it,” he added.
Speaking about meeting the champion he portrayed on screen, Gudnason continued: “I had decided not to meet him [Borg] during the shoot or before, so that I could create my own character. But then I met him at the premiere. It was fantastic. He was really nice… and supported the movie and came to the premiere.”
