From bjorn to Leo: from such a stick, such a splinter | ATP Tour

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From bjorn to Leo: from such a stick, such a splinter

Borg’s little boy premiered in Barcelona, ​​a tournament that his father won 50 years ago

April 12, 2025

The popular proverb that ‘of such a stick, such a splinter’ says. And the last name Borg is one of the largest that has been registered in the ATP, by the hand of the legend that Bjorn starred during a good part of the ’70 and beginning of the ’80. Five decades later, his son Leo tries to write his own story in the sport of the racket.

Bjorn Borg conquered the first of the two trophies he achieved in Barcelona Open Banc Sabadell (1975, 1977). Then, he began his way to the British John Feaver and reached glory defeating other great figures on land such as Jan Kodes (quarterfinals), Guillermo Vilas (semifinal) and Adriano Panatta (final).

50 years after that deed, his son Leo Borg returned to the same stage to premiere in the ATP 500 in Barcelona. Of course, he did it in the previous phase, precisely before a player of the same nationality against which his father began his participation in 1975. In this case, the British Jacob Fearnley.

The Catalan tournament painting saw the last name Borg printed on one of his boxes. This time, the ‘ice man’ was in the stands closely watching his son’s first steps. And although Leo could not move on, after falling before Fearnley 7-5, 7-6 (1), he was more experience in the backpack of the youngest of the house in the circuit.

Despite the eleven titles of Grand Slam and the more than 100 weeks that Bjorn spent the highest of the PIF ATP Rankings, Leo has another great reference in the tennis: Rafa Nadal. The Spanish, who lifted 12 times the Count of Godó trophy, gives name to the central track of the tournament.

Just eight months ago, he had the opportunity to face his idol at the ATP 250 of Bastad. “It was incredible because we were looking when they made the raffle and my name came out against Rafa,” said the Swede who was the Spanish rival in the first round.

Leo could not continue his adventure in the ‘house of Nadal’ or on the stage where his father sculpted a piece of his legend, but once again he monopolized all eyes in Barcelona, ​​as every time in the ATP Tour the surname Borg relacled again.