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Heartbeats: A Memoir
Idol. Legend. Enigma. For the first time, one of the all-time greatest sportsmen is finally ready to share his astonishing the long-awaited tell-all memoir from Björn Borg, now a Sunday Times bestseller.
No one had ever played tennis quite like Björn Borg. With his incredible athleticism, powerful shot-making and distinctive style, he became a sensation after he burst onto the scene at just fifteen years old. As he ascended to the pinnacle of men's tennis, Borg experienced unprecedented stardom and success that changed the game forever.
Hailed as one of the most talented players to ever step onto a tennis court, Borg collected the game's highest honors, including eleven Grand Slam titles –– with five consecutive Wimbledon titles –– establishing himself as one of the greatest of all time. Then he stunned the sporting world by announcing his retirement at the age of twenty-six and disappeared from tennis.
After all these years of silence, Borg is ready to share everything. In this candid memoir, Borg takes us through all the major moments in his career, shares insights into his rivalry with John McEnroe and their legendary 1980 Wimbledon final, and explains his shock retirement. Borg writes candidly about his childhood, his early stardom, and his uncomfortable relationship with fame, alongside all the highs and lows of his unmatched career.
This look behind the curtain at an enigmatic player who has fascinated generations of tennis fans, is ultimately a remarkable look at the making of sporting legend and, for readers who know nothing about tennis, a rare glimpse into an extraordinary, compelling life.
No one had ever played tennis quite like Björn Borg. With his incredible athleticism, powerful shot-making and distinctive style, he became a sensation after he burst onto the scene at just fifteen years old. As he ascended to the pinnacle of men's tennis, Borg experienced unprecedented stardom and success that changed the game forever.
Hailed as one of the most talented players to ever step onto a tennis court, Borg collected the game's highest honors, including eleven Grand Slam titles –– with five consecutive Wimbledon titles –– establishing himself as one of the greatest of all time. Then he stunned the sporting world by announcing his retirement at the age of twenty-six and disappeared from tennis.
After all these years of silence, Borg is ready to share everything. In this candid memoir, Borg takes us through all the major moments in his career, shares insights into his rivalry with John McEnroe and their legendary 1980 Wimbledon final, and explains his shock retirement. Borg writes candidly about his childhood, his early stardom, and his uncomfortable relationship with fame, alongside all the highs and lows of his unmatched career.
This look behind the curtain at an enigmatic player who has fascinated generations of tennis fans, is ultimately a remarkable look at the making of sporting legend and, for readers who know nothing about tennis, a rare glimpse into an extraordinary, compelling life.
285 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 23, 2025
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864 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 67 reviews
October 31, 2025
This book is the perfect example of an autobiography by someone who has lived an impressive life and has accomplished incredible achievements, but could’ve easily done without writing a book.
As a tennis fan I was very keen to know more about Borg and delve into the darkest parts of his life, but I was very disappointed to read what felt like an incredibly matter-a-factual autobiography, which could’ve easily been replaced by a Wikipedia page.
The main flaw of this work is that it completely lacks any emotional depth. Two thirds of the book are a list of events explaining his early years and putting very little effort in shedding more light into the feelings and emotions that have accompanied those moments. The remainder is slightly more elaborate on some of Borg’s relationships and family dynamics, but nevertheless lacks any kind of emotional charge. The book is also punctuated by an excessive amount of very generic remarks by the author (e.g., “I really liked that”, “I always enjoyed spending time there”, “I always appreciated him”), which are supposedly meant to add more dimension to the author’s personality, but ultimately only end up making him sound extremely flat and dull.
So yes, 1 star it is for me as it was an overall snooze and would not recommend it as compared to other tennis bios.
As a tennis fan I was very keen to know more about Borg and delve into the darkest parts of his life, but I was very disappointed to read what felt like an incredibly matter-a-factual autobiography, which could’ve easily been replaced by a Wikipedia page.
The main flaw of this work is that it completely lacks any emotional depth. Two thirds of the book are a list of events explaining his early years and putting very little effort in shedding more light into the feelings and emotions that have accompanied those moments. The remainder is slightly more elaborate on some of Borg’s relationships and family dynamics, but nevertheless lacks any kind of emotional charge. The book is also punctuated by an excessive amount of very generic remarks by the author (e.g., “I really liked that”, “I always enjoyed spending time there”, “I always appreciated him”), which are supposedly meant to add more dimension to the author’s personality, but ultimately only end up making him sound extremely flat and dull.
So yes, 1 star it is for me as it was an overall snooze and would not recommend it as compared to other tennis bios.
December 21, 2025
I am a massive tennis fan and tennis player, been to Wimbledon eighteen times, watched so many classics over the years, but reading this?
Well the question is did I like Bjorn Borg more or less after reading this book, the answer was a strongly less !!
To be truthful it shocked me, interesting , yes, but his cockiness, his love of himself, lack of respect for his opponents, his treatment of his girlfriends, wife's, his heavy use of drugs and drink.
Yes, shocking lack of respect of his own body, not really understanding the life he was leading, his control of his life, let many people use him, not being around for his children.
Interesting from the tennis side, his friendships in later years, his pure lavish lifestyle.
Yes he was an Idol, a legend. Enigma. For the first time, one of the all-time greatest sportsmen is finally ready to share his astonishing story: the long-awaited tell-all memoir from Björn Borg.
'a shockingly revelatory insight' - The Times
'The tennis star retired too early, overdosed on drugs, was serially unfaithful and has been battling cancer. His memoir, Heartbeats, is wild' - The Telegraph
No one had ever played tennis quite like Björn Borg. With his incredible athleticism, powerful shot-making and distinctive style, he became a sensation after he burst onto the scene aged just 15. As he ascended to the pinnacle of men's tennis, Borg experienced unprecedented stardom and success that changed the game forever.
Hailed as one of the most talented players to ever step onto a tennis court, Borg collected the game's highest honours, including eleven Grand Slam titles - with five consecutive Wimbledon titles - establishing himself as one of the greatest of all time. Then he stunned the sporting world by announcing his retirement at the age of 26 and disappeared from tennis.
After all these years of silence, Borg is ready to share everything. In this candid memoir, Borg takes us through all the major moments in his career, shares insights into his rivalry with John McEnroe - considered one of the best in the sport's history - and their legendary 1980 Wimbledon final, and explains his shock retirement. Borg writes candidly about his personal life - for so long kept under wraps - including his childhood, his early stardom and his uncomfortable relationship with fame, alongside all the highs and lows of his unmatched career.
For the first time, readers will get Borg's own account of his career, his choices, and the experiences that shaped him as a person, from his childhood right up to today. This look behind the curtain at an enigmatic player who has fascinated generations of tennis fans, is ultimately a fascinating look at the making of sporting legend and, for readers who know nothing about tennis, a rare glimpse into an extraordinary, compelling life.
Three stars
Well the question is did I like Bjorn Borg more or less after reading this book, the answer was a strongly less !!
To be truthful it shocked me, interesting , yes, but his cockiness, his love of himself, lack of respect for his opponents, his treatment of his girlfriends, wife's, his heavy use of drugs and drink.
Yes, shocking lack of respect of his own body, not really understanding the life he was leading, his control of his life, let many people use him, not being around for his children.
Interesting from the tennis side, his friendships in later years, his pure lavish lifestyle.
Yes he was an Idol, a legend. Enigma. For the first time, one of the all-time greatest sportsmen is finally ready to share his astonishing story: the long-awaited tell-all memoir from Björn Borg.
'a shockingly revelatory insight' - The Times
'The tennis star retired too early, overdosed on drugs, was serially unfaithful and has been battling cancer. His memoir, Heartbeats, is wild' - The Telegraph
No one had ever played tennis quite like Björn Borg. With his incredible athleticism, powerful shot-making and distinctive style, he became a sensation after he burst onto the scene aged just 15. As he ascended to the pinnacle of men's tennis, Borg experienced unprecedented stardom and success that changed the game forever.
Hailed as one of the most talented players to ever step onto a tennis court, Borg collected the game's highest honours, including eleven Grand Slam titles - with five consecutive Wimbledon titles - establishing himself as one of the greatest of all time. Then he stunned the sporting world by announcing his retirement at the age of 26 and disappeared from tennis.
After all these years of silence, Borg is ready to share everything. In this candid memoir, Borg takes us through all the major moments in his career, shares insights into his rivalry with John McEnroe - considered one of the best in the sport's history - and their legendary 1980 Wimbledon final, and explains his shock retirement. Borg writes candidly about his personal life - for so long kept under wraps - including his childhood, his early stardom and his uncomfortable relationship with fame, alongside all the highs and lows of his unmatched career.
For the first time, readers will get Borg's own account of his career, his choices, and the experiences that shaped him as a person, from his childhood right up to today. This look behind the curtain at an enigmatic player who has fascinated generations of tennis fans, is ultimately a fascinating look at the making of sporting legend and, for readers who know nothing about tennis, a rare glimpse into an extraordinary, compelling life.
Three stars
October 5, 2025
3.5 rounded up
I had such a crush on him way back when, so handsome and soft spoken. This was an eye opener
I had such a crush on him way back when, so handsome and soft spoken. This was an eye opener
December 2, 2025
I enjoyed this book and added it to the tennis autobiographies I have read. It’s a light, easy read and gives the reader some insight into Borg’s rapid ascent to tennis superstardom and Swedish roots. Borg provides some entertaining nuggets about his experiences and is reasonably candid about them. Despite his attempts to describe the challenges he faced in the form of substance abuse, this is not a deeply personal autobiography like Andre Agassi’s Open, which is the gold standard for the tennis autobiography. Overall, if you’re a tennis fan, it’s an enjoyable way to pass a few hours, and will enhance your appreciation of Borg’s accomplishments.
October 16, 2025
Other than being a Swedish legend I’ve never really known much about Björn Borg, but I’m always excited about a celebrity memoir.
I like how the book was like an overview of his entire life and included both his sports career and some more personal stories. Some parts in the second half even made me emotional and I was surprised by some things that he revealed.
I would’ve like for the narration to be more invested, it was a bit too monotone as an audiobook.
I like how the book was like an overview of his entire life and included both his sports career and some more personal stories. Some parts in the second half even made me emotional and I was surprised by some things that he revealed.
I would’ve like for the narration to be more invested, it was a bit too monotone as an audiobook.
October 4, 2025
As a Bjorn Borg fan from his early days at Wimbledon, I have to say I found this book fascinating. A great read that reveals a lot about Björn's life from an early age as a child right through to the most recent of times. If you have been a fan of Björn's, this book is not to be missed.
October 3, 2025
That was a massive slog. Memoirs are never interesting! Meeting with the know terrorist Arafat, playing in Iran, going to mediums, name dropping, drug addiction, neglecting his first son. Honestly. Exhausting.
October 1, 2025
Viss fakta intressant, men det känns som man bara skrapat på ytan och egentligen kunde fått veta något mer nytt.
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October 30, 2025I’m really glad I read this, because I’d always heard of “the great Bjorn Borg” but was too young to have seen him play.
All in all, I really appreciated hearing this overview of his life. I think the parts that surprised me most were how extremely absent Bjorn was for his son Robin Borg’s childhood. Bjorn owns that sort-of in this book, but also keeps calling himself a family man and saying how much family matters to him. I guess I didn’t feel the sentiments he expressed aligned clearly in that regard. (Again, he did call out his own absenteeism as a parent, but I think what I was missing was a deeper level of sentiment or regret related to it.)
Interestingly, he more or less infers he has SAD, but notes that it wasn’t really diagnosed “back then”.
I also was very struck by the fact that, given Sweden’s 90% tax rate, he moved to Monaco for the years he was earning money, and then moved back to Sweden after he stopped earning that much money. I guess I can comprehend moving away for this reason, but I really wonder what his fellow Swedes thought of the fact that he then moved back after he no longer makes much money (and he presumably now uses their public services and maybe health facilities)? While I understand that it would be a huge deal to give 90% of your income to taxes, I was kind of shocked by the fact that he was then happy to move back when he could enjoy the country’s infrastructure and social services… (But I have no idea what his current income is, so I don’t have a gauge on his current tax contributions.) I would have appreciated a bit of reflection on the decision to move back to Sweden.
The audio narrator left a lot to be desired. If there had been a conversation at the audio book company about “how can we narrate Bjorn Borg’s memoir in the most boring and unappealing way, ever, so as to scare off any potentially-interested listeners?” I would believe it. Not sure what anyone was thinking about this narration!
All in all, I really appreciated hearing this overview of his life. I think the parts that surprised me most were how extremely absent Bjorn was for his son Robin Borg’s childhood. Bjorn owns that sort-of in this book, but also keeps calling himself a family man and saying how much family matters to him. I guess I didn’t feel the sentiments he expressed aligned clearly in that regard. (Again, he did call out his own absenteeism as a parent, but I think what I was missing was a deeper level of sentiment or regret related to it.)
Interestingly, he more or less infers he has SAD, but notes that it wasn’t really diagnosed “back then”.
I also was very struck by the fact that, given Sweden’s 90% tax rate, he moved to Monaco for the years he was earning money, and then moved back to Sweden after he stopped earning that much money. I guess I can comprehend moving away for this reason, but I really wonder what his fellow Swedes thought of the fact that he then moved back after he no longer makes much money (and he presumably now uses their public services and maybe health facilities)? While I understand that it would be a huge deal to give 90% of your income to taxes, I was kind of shocked by the fact that he was then happy to move back when he could enjoy the country’s infrastructure and social services… (But I have no idea what his current income is, so I don’t have a gauge on his current tax contributions.) I would have appreciated a bit of reflection on the decision to move back to Sweden.
The audio narrator left a lot to be desired. If there had been a conversation at the audio book company about “how can we narrate Bjorn Borg’s memoir in the most boring and unappealing way, ever, so as to scare off any potentially-interested listeners?” I would believe it. Not sure what anyone was thinking about this narration!
October 15, 2025
Heartbeats is a compelling memoir by Björn Borg, widely regarded as one of the greatest tennis players of all time. The book traces his journey from a young boy growing up in Sweden to his rise as a global tennis icon, including his legendary achievement of winning five consecutive Wimbledon Championships. It also candidly explores the darker chapters of his life, including struggles with drug abuse and the emotional toll of fame.
The memoir is structured chronologically, with Borg narrating his story in a straightforward, almost matter-of-fact tone. At times, the delivery feels a bit stiff and lacks emotional depth, which may make it harder for some readers to connect with the narrative on a personal level. However, the richness of the content and the sheer magnitude of Borg’s life experiences more than make up for the stylistic shortcomings.
As someone who began following tennis after Borg’s prime, I found it fascinating to learn more about his career and personal life. The book offers valuable insight into the pressures of elite competition and the challenges athletes face off the court.
Overall, I’d give Heartbeats a solid four stars. It’s an honest and informative read filled with remarkable stories, though it could benefit from a more engaging narrative style. I’d recommend it to tennis fans and anyone interested in the human side of sports legends. Thank you to NetGalley, Bjorn Borg, and Dreamscapes Media for a free advanced reader copy for an honest review.
The memoir is structured chronologically, with Borg narrating his story in a straightforward, almost matter-of-fact tone. At times, the delivery feels a bit stiff and lacks emotional depth, which may make it harder for some readers to connect with the narrative on a personal level. However, the richness of the content and the sheer magnitude of Borg’s life experiences more than make up for the stylistic shortcomings.
As someone who began following tennis after Borg’s prime, I found it fascinating to learn more about his career and personal life. The book offers valuable insight into the pressures of elite competition and the challenges athletes face off the court.
Overall, I’d give Heartbeats a solid four stars. It’s an honest and informative read filled with remarkable stories, though it could benefit from a more engaging narrative style. I’d recommend it to tennis fans and anyone interested in the human side of sports legends. Thank you to NetGalley, Bjorn Borg, and Dreamscapes Media for a free advanced reader copy for an honest review.
December 3, 2025
The overwhelming feeling I had throughout was: how did he throw away so much of his life so easily, both in terms of the tennis history he could’ve created and his wealth ? His decision to walk away at 25 still feels like the most shocking retirement in sports - more than Spitz, Henin, Rosberg or even Jordan’s first exit.
I appreciated his honesty about his romantic life. He openly admits to two-timing partners for years until meeting his current wife though I couldn’t help but judge him for it.
What’s clear is that Borg never stopped living king-size no matter what. The name-dropping is wild: Pele, Beckenbauer, Mick Jagger, Elton John, the Emperor of Japan. It’s a reminder of just how big a global icon he was.
The book also gives a fascinating glimpse into tennis 50 years ago when players cared far less about records and Slams and it was mostly about money. Hard to imagine a Djokovic today skipping a Slam to play an exhibition match!
The highlight for me was his recounting of the 1980 Wimbledon final. The way he describes his mindset and nerves before and during the match makes you feel the magnitude of that sporting occasion, even 45 years later. I just wish he had done the same for the 1981 final.
Where the book falls short is his retirement and financial collapse. Both chapters feel rushed and vague. I wanted more insight into his mindset behind quitting at 25 and losing his fortune.
The book is just as flawed as the champion's life itself.
I appreciated his honesty about his romantic life. He openly admits to two-timing partners for years until meeting his current wife though I couldn’t help but judge him for it.
What’s clear is that Borg never stopped living king-size no matter what. The name-dropping is wild: Pele, Beckenbauer, Mick Jagger, Elton John, the Emperor of Japan. It’s a reminder of just how big a global icon he was.
The book also gives a fascinating glimpse into tennis 50 years ago when players cared far less about records and Slams and it was mostly about money. Hard to imagine a Djokovic today skipping a Slam to play an exhibition match!
The highlight for me was his recounting of the 1980 Wimbledon final. The way he describes his mindset and nerves before and during the match makes you feel the magnitude of that sporting occasion, even 45 years later. I just wish he had done the same for the 1981 final.
Where the book falls short is his retirement and financial collapse. Both chapters feel rushed and vague. I wanted more insight into his mindset behind quitting at 25 and losing his fortune.
The book is just as flawed as the champion's life itself.
October 16, 2025
I was a big Björn Borg fan back in the day. Fun to hear him reminisce about his Wimbledon successes especially.
As a person he certainly didn’t know how to handle post tennis life. He doesn’t get too specific with the details but he sure did struggle with relationships and marriages.
The book fell a little flat in a sense of not feeling like there were big lessons learned. Things just kept rolling along. Or good or bad luck. Just didn’t seem that inner growth happened.
As a person he certainly didn’t know how to handle post tennis life. He doesn’t get too specific with the details but he sure did struggle with relationships and marriages.
The book fell a little flat in a sense of not feeling like there were big lessons learned. Things just kept rolling along. Or good or bad luck. Just didn’t seem that inner growth happened.
November 29, 2025
I enjoyed reading this as Borg was one of my favorite players growing up. While I enjoyed reading his take on things during his playing days as well as his life after his sudden retirement; he could have used a better editor as there were several editorial mistakes and contradictions in the book, but overall good to read.
December 20, 2025
Muistan Borgin kyllä lapsuudesta, vaikka en huipulla ehtinytkään nähdä. Mutta sentään on mulle tenniksenpelaaja eikä alusvaatemerkki. Ei tässä mitään järin yllättävää ollut, mutta sentään on pitkä ura ja elämä kuvattu kunnolla, eikä mitään parin vuoden pätkää kuten monessa muussa urheilijaelämäkerrassa.
October 10, 2025
Det är lätt att gilla personen Björn Borg efter att ha läst denna. Boken som är skriven ihop med frun lider dock av problemet att hon nog mer eller mindre bara skrivit av hans berättelser rakt av (och någon stor berättare är han inte, tror aldrig att jag läst så många plattityder i en och samma bok) utan att ha ställt så många jobbiga men viktiga följdfrågor. Ett spännande och händelserikt liv gör det ändå till en helt okej biografi.
⭐️⭐️(⭐️)
⭐️⭐️(⭐️)
October 7, 2025
Finished this one just after the Boris Becker biography, that I gave five stars. I rated this one lower because the first part is very factual. Only later in the book he starts reflecting so that you get to know him a little better.
November 19, 2025
I received this audiobook from NetGalley but this review is completely my own (not sponsored). I didn't know much about Borg before listening to this audiobook and I found his story fascinating. I am glad that he has found some peace after finding his life partner and stepping away from tennis.
October 15, 2025
This book felt more like a factual overview than a personal memoir—almost like reading a Wikipedia entry. It’s clear that Borg is a very private individual, and that tone carries through the writing. While the book offers a thorough account of his achievements, I found myself wishing for more emotional insight and reflection. I was hoping to learn more about Borg as a person, beyond his athletic career.
He comes across as reserved, and there’s little acknowledgment of personal missteps or growth. I understand that English isn’t his first language, but it might have added a nice touch if he had personally introduced the book through the prologue or acknowledgements. Overall, the book mirrors Borg’s public persona: cool, composed, and somewhat distant.
He comes across as reserved, and there’s little acknowledgment of personal missteps or growth. I understand that English isn’t his first language, but it might have added a nice touch if he had personally introduced the book through the prologue or acknowledgements. Overall, the book mirrors Borg’s public persona: cool, composed, and somewhat distant.
September 24, 2025
I was a huge fan of Bjorn Borg and was thrilled to see he wrote a book about his tennis life. When he suddenly retired, I was devastated and hoped this book would give information, namely, since I watched him beat John McEnroe at Wimbledon just the year before in 1980.
The book details his life from childhood until now, talking about how he went from a normal kid to someone who picked up a tennis racket and discovered his passion. Through trial and error, he learns to control his anger and becomes known as Ice on the court. Playing against some of the best players at the time, he works his way to the top, winning 11 grand slam titles, including 5 consecutive Wimbledon titles. He is still known as one of the greatest players of all time.
Mr. Borg writes candidly about his partying and drug use, and his struggles with the fame that came with his incredible career. He talks about his relationships with women, his children, and how his parents played a huge part in his life, and how he developed lifelong friendships with his tennis rivals, including John McEnroe.
While I really enjoyed this book, it was sad to see how drugs tore at Bjorn, He did eventually fight his way through the dark and came out on top, but it was hard to read about his struggle. I also wished he had discussed more about the 1980 Wimbledon Victory vs John McEnroe, I think, because that is the picture on the cover, he was going to get more into that match, but it was very short.
You don't need to be a tennis buff to enjoy this book; anyone who has a passion for anything will understand and enjoy this book. His bafflement over the fact that the door of his house, which he used to practice on, was saved and someone has it to this day, or the sheets he slept on at a house earlier in his career had been saved for over 20 years, adding a great touch to the book.
I will be recommending this book to all my friends.
The book details his life from childhood until now, talking about how he went from a normal kid to someone who picked up a tennis racket and discovered his passion. Through trial and error, he learns to control his anger and becomes known as Ice on the court. Playing against some of the best players at the time, he works his way to the top, winning 11 grand slam titles, including 5 consecutive Wimbledon titles. He is still known as one of the greatest players of all time.
Mr. Borg writes candidly about his partying and drug use, and his struggles with the fame that came with his incredible career. He talks about his relationships with women, his children, and how his parents played a huge part in his life, and how he developed lifelong friendships with his tennis rivals, including John McEnroe.
While I really enjoyed this book, it was sad to see how drugs tore at Bjorn, He did eventually fight his way through the dark and came out on top, but it was hard to read about his struggle. I also wished he had discussed more about the 1980 Wimbledon Victory vs John McEnroe, I think, because that is the picture on the cover, he was going to get more into that match, but it was very short.
You don't need to be a tennis buff to enjoy this book; anyone who has a passion for anything will understand and enjoy this book. His bafflement over the fact that the door of his house, which he used to practice on, was saved and someone has it to this day, or the sheets he slept on at a house earlier in his career had been saved for over 20 years, adding a great touch to the book.
I will be recommending this book to all my friends.
October 5, 2025
Thanks to NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for the digital copy of this book; I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Last year, PBS had a great documentary series called The Gods of Tennis. It covered the 1970s and 1980s in the world of tennis. Now, I still don’t understand scoring in tennis, but I remember my sports-loving dad watching Wimbledon and the US Open every year. The players back then were incredible: John McEnroe, Jimmy Connors, Martina Navratilova, Chris Evert, Billie Jean King, Arthur Ashe. The one that interested me most was Bjorn Borg, in part because I heard so much about him but hadn’t really seen him play.
In Heartbeats, Bjorn Borg tells his story. He had a very normal childhood until he picked up the tennis racket. With his very loving and supportive parents, he was able to tap into his passion. He hit the professional scene when he was only 15 years old. Through his dozen-year career on the courts, he won five consecutive Wimbledon tournaments and eleven Grand Slam titles. Despite leaving the game at a young age, he is still considered one of the greatest tennis players of all time.
Borg was passionate about his tennis game and had to learn to reign in his anger. Soon, he wins the nickname Ice on the court. But, as he admits, when fame and success hits you at a young age, there’s a tendency to fall into some bad stuff. And Bjorn was no different. He’s very upfront about his partying and drug use as well as his relationships with women. The way he handled his immense fame was to cut the cord, so to speak, and leave the game while he was at the top of his game.
You don’t have to be a tennis fan to enjoy this memoir. Simply a love of excellence in sport will do. The audiobook is narrated by Julian Elfer, who captures the spirit of Borg’s prose. Highly recommended!
Last year, PBS had a great documentary series called The Gods of Tennis. It covered the 1970s and 1980s in the world of tennis. Now, I still don’t understand scoring in tennis, but I remember my sports-loving dad watching Wimbledon and the US Open every year. The players back then were incredible: John McEnroe, Jimmy Connors, Martina Navratilova, Chris Evert, Billie Jean King, Arthur Ashe. The one that interested me most was Bjorn Borg, in part because I heard so much about him but hadn’t really seen him play.
In Heartbeats, Bjorn Borg tells his story. He had a very normal childhood until he picked up the tennis racket. With his very loving and supportive parents, he was able to tap into his passion. He hit the professional scene when he was only 15 years old. Through his dozen-year career on the courts, he won five consecutive Wimbledon tournaments and eleven Grand Slam titles. Despite leaving the game at a young age, he is still considered one of the greatest tennis players of all time.
Borg was passionate about his tennis game and had to learn to reign in his anger. Soon, he wins the nickname Ice on the court. But, as he admits, when fame and success hits you at a young age, there’s a tendency to fall into some bad stuff. And Bjorn was no different. He’s very upfront about his partying and drug use as well as his relationships with women. The way he handled his immense fame was to cut the cord, so to speak, and leave the game while he was at the top of his game.
You don’t have to be a tennis fan to enjoy this memoir. Simply a love of excellence in sport will do. The audiobook is narrated by Julian Elfer, who captures the spirit of Borg’s prose. Highly recommended!
September 25, 2025
As a huge tennis fan, I was very excited to read this book. I started watching tennis when I was around 14 years old and Andre Agassi was about to get retired, but who hasn't heard about Bjorn Borg and John McEnroe's golden years?
The first half of this book was like reading a list of all of Borg's matches in chronological order. Since this is a memoir, I expected to learn more about his state of mind going into tournaments specially major events like Wimbledon 1980 and I was very curious about the atmosphere of tennis during those years. He did mention that he's always been a very closed off person so I guess that's the best he could do.
The second half of the book goes more into details of his many relationships, his family dynamics and his need to always have a partner next to him. More than once I wondered if he's ever sought professional help from a therapist regarding his relationships - hopefully he has but not much was mentioned in the book about his personal growth.
I enjoyed reading about his friendships with other athletics, his involvement in Laver Cup with Roger Federer and all the superstitions he believes in as a former pro athlete. We all know how superstitious some pro players can get but I never imagined they'd go as far as contacting a medium for consultation!
Thank you NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for the advanced audiobook in exchange for my honest review.
The first half of this book was like reading a list of all of Borg's matches in chronological order. Since this is a memoir, I expected to learn more about his state of mind going into tournaments specially major events like Wimbledon 1980 and I was very curious about the atmosphere of tennis during those years. He did mention that he's always been a very closed off person so I guess that's the best he could do.
The second half of the book goes more into details of his many relationships, his family dynamics and his need to always have a partner next to him. More than once I wondered if he's ever sought professional help from a therapist regarding his relationships - hopefully he has but not much was mentioned in the book about his personal growth.
I enjoyed reading about his friendships with other athletics, his involvement in Laver Cup with Roger Federer and all the superstitions he believes in as a former pro athlete. We all know how superstitious some pro players can get but I never imagined they'd go as far as contacting a medium for consultation!
Thank you NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for the advanced audiobook in exchange for my honest review.
October 20, 2025
Borg, Björn: Sydämenlyöntejä — Omaelämäkerta
Björn Borgin omaelämäkerta Sydämenlyöntejä tarjoaa kiehtovan kurkistuksen tennislegendan elämään ja uraan. Kirja kuvaa rehellisesti Borgin nousua huipulle, hänen intensiivistä harjoitteluaan ja henkistä vahvuuttaan, mutta myös paineita, jotka lopulta johtivat varhaiseen uran päättymiseen. Erityisen yllättävää oli Borgin avoimuus taikauskostaan ja naisistaan, joka paljastaa hänen inhimillisen ja haavoittuvan puolensa – rituaalit ja rutiinit olivat hänelle tärkeä tapa hallita stressiä.
Kirja on sujuvalukuinen, mutta jää ajoittain pintapuoliseksi syvempien tunteiden käsittelyssä. Suosittelen tennisfaneille ja elämäkertojen ystäville.
Björn Borg mullisti tennistä 1970-luvulla tuomalla peliin uudenlaisen fyysisen ja henkisen ulottuvuuden. Hänen merkittävimmät vaikutuksensa ja "aseensa" kentällä olivat
kahdenkäden rysty ja topspin. Henkinen vahvuus ja rauhallisuus olivat tavaramerkkejä. Borgin kyky pysyä tyynenä paineen alla oli hänen tavaramerkkinsä. US Open ja Australian Open jäivät häneltä puuttumaan.
Hänen vaikutus näkyy edelleen nykytenniksessä, erityisesti pelaajien fyysisessä valmiudessa ja topspin-pelin kehityksessä. Hänen aseensa oli yhdistelmä teknistä taitoa, fyysistä kestävyyttä ja mentaalista voimaa, jotka tekivät hänestä yhden lajin suurimmista pioneereista.
4/5 tähteä
Björn Borgin omaelämäkerta Sydämenlyöntejä tarjoaa kiehtovan kurkistuksen tennislegendan elämään ja uraan. Kirja kuvaa rehellisesti Borgin nousua huipulle, hänen intensiivistä harjoitteluaan ja henkistä vahvuuttaan, mutta myös paineita, jotka lopulta johtivat varhaiseen uran päättymiseen. Erityisen yllättävää oli Borgin avoimuus taikauskostaan ja naisistaan, joka paljastaa hänen inhimillisen ja haavoittuvan puolensa – rituaalit ja rutiinit olivat hänelle tärkeä tapa hallita stressiä.
Kirja on sujuvalukuinen, mutta jää ajoittain pintapuoliseksi syvempien tunteiden käsittelyssä. Suosittelen tennisfaneille ja elämäkertojen ystäville.
Björn Borg mullisti tennistä 1970-luvulla tuomalla peliin uudenlaisen fyysisen ja henkisen ulottuvuuden. Hänen merkittävimmät vaikutuksensa ja "aseensa" kentällä olivat
kahdenkäden rysty ja topspin. Henkinen vahvuus ja rauhallisuus olivat tavaramerkkejä. Borgin kyky pysyä tyynenä paineen alla oli hänen tavaramerkkinsä. US Open ja Australian Open jäivät häneltä puuttumaan.
Hänen vaikutus näkyy edelleen nykytenniksessä, erityisesti pelaajien fyysisessä valmiudessa ja topspin-pelin kehityksessä. Hänen aseensa oli yhdistelmä teknistä taitoa, fyysistä kestävyyttä ja mentaalista voimaa, jotka tekivät hänestä yhden lajin suurimmista pioneereista.
4/5 tähteä
November 7, 2025
I had never heard of Bjorn Borg before and after reading his memoir he seems like an extremely interesting guy. He has had many accomplishments in his life and has been very successful, but I felt like something was missing from this biography. We only hit the highlights and what happened, but never heard the insight of what he was thinking, feeling or experiencing after those events. For someone so private, I know that this must have been a tall ask to give an account of your life, but I ask, why give an account if there is not any emotion behind it, not reflections, no retrospects on how it made him feel.
The main reason I loved this book, even though there wasn't much emotion behind it is for the narrator. He tried his best to impart what Bjorn might have been feeling at the time and made the story feel more like someone's life and not just a chronological listing of events.
Final Thoughts: This book serves up plenty of fascinating stories and honest insights—it’s like a strong backhand of truth. That said, the writing could use a little more spin to keep things lively. Still, I’d recommend it to tennis fans and anyone curious about what really goes on behind the perfectly timed grunts of sports legends.
The main reason I loved this book, even though there wasn't much emotion behind it is for the narrator. He tried his best to impart what Bjorn might have been feeling at the time and made the story feel more like someone's life and not just a chronological listing of events.
Final Thoughts: This book serves up plenty of fascinating stories and honest insights—it’s like a strong backhand of truth. That said, the writing could use a little more spin to keep things lively. Still, I’d recommend it to tennis fans and anyone curious about what really goes on behind the perfectly timed grunts of sports legends.
October 6, 2025
Heartbeats: A Memoir by Björn Borg is equal parts sports biography and celebrity confessional. Growing up in the 1980s, Borg was a true international icon who bridged the eras of Jimmy Connors and John McEnroe. Since I was so young during his dominant years, I’ve always been curious to learn more about the man behind his icy veneer.
The word I’ve often associated with Borg is enigma. And after nearly eight hours of his memoir, he remains just as mysterious as ever. The book offers plenty of anecdotes and factoids but few real insights. There’s tennis, fame, sex, drugs, and even rock and roll, but by the end, I felt I could have learned just as much from his Wikipedia page.
Narrator Julian Elfer delivers a capable performance. I have Swedish ancestry, but not enough familiarity with the language to judge his pronunciation of names, places, etc. By all accounts, though, his performance was competent and professional.
Story: 🎾🎾🎾
Narration: 🎾🎾🎾
Overall: 🎾🎾🎾
Disclaimer: I received a free advance reader copy (ARC) of this audiobook from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review. These are my personal opinions.
The word I’ve often associated with Borg is enigma. And after nearly eight hours of his memoir, he remains just as mysterious as ever. The book offers plenty of anecdotes and factoids but few real insights. There’s tennis, fame, sex, drugs, and even rock and roll, but by the end, I felt I could have learned just as much from his Wikipedia page.
Narrator Julian Elfer delivers a capable performance. I have Swedish ancestry, but not enough familiarity with the language to judge his pronunciation of names, places, etc. By all accounts, though, his performance was competent and professional.
Story: 🎾🎾🎾
Narration: 🎾🎾🎾
Overall: 🎾🎾🎾
Disclaimer: I received a free advance reader copy (ARC) of this audiobook from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review. These are my personal opinions.
October 24, 2025
Björn Borg's Heartbeats is an informative and necessary historical document for tennis fans, finally lifting the veil on the "Ice Man's" turbulent post-career life.
Borg bravely offers candid admissions about his dark years, including struggles with addiction, financial chaos, and the near-fatal overdose that inspired the title. It provides his long-awaited reasons for his shock retirement at age 26.
However, the memoir’s greatest limitation is its prose, which, reflecting Borg’s natural restraint, often remains too straightforward. The narrative delivers dramatic facts but fails to perform the deep psychological work required of a great memoir.
This is highlighted when compared to Andre Agassi's Open. Agassi’s book is a literary masterpiece and a genuine bildungsroman, standing head and shoulders above Heartbeats. Open is written with astonishing vulnerability and powerful structure, using the sport as a metaphor for a painful, self-aware journey of identity. While Borg's book gives us candid details, Agassi's transforms a sports story into universal, enduring literature.
Borg bravely offers candid admissions about his dark years, including struggles with addiction, financial chaos, and the near-fatal overdose that inspired the title. It provides his long-awaited reasons for his shock retirement at age 26.
However, the memoir’s greatest limitation is its prose, which, reflecting Borg’s natural restraint, often remains too straightforward. The narrative delivers dramatic facts but fails to perform the deep psychological work required of a great memoir.
This is highlighted when compared to Andre Agassi's Open. Agassi’s book is a literary masterpiece and a genuine bildungsroman, standing head and shoulders above Heartbeats. Open is written with astonishing vulnerability and powerful structure, using the sport as a metaphor for a painful, self-aware journey of identity. While Borg's book gives us candid details, Agassi's transforms a sports story into universal, enduring literature.
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November 9, 2025Won this as a Goodreads Giveaway in November 2025.
I don't typically rate autobiographies/memoirs, because a person has whatever experiences they have and I'm not in a position to judge them for it.
I will say that the style of this book does very little to get rid of the "Ice-Borg" impression people had of him. If he isn't comfortable writing about his career or personal life on a deeper level than what can be found on his Wikipedia page, then this probably should have been shelved until he is.
There are no anecdotes about things that happened during his career that might give insight to him or what the professional tennis circuit was like in the 1970s or 1980s. He does say several times that he doesn't dwell on the past and that "When it's over, it's over." Which is an odd statement to make in a book looking back on his life. I get the sense that this wasn't something that he wanted to do, and that he was asked to write a book, or he needed to write a book for another income stream.
I don't typically rate autobiographies/memoirs, because a person has whatever experiences they have and I'm not in a position to judge them for it.
I will say that the style of this book does very little to get rid of the "Ice-Borg" impression people had of him. If he isn't comfortable writing about his career or personal life on a deeper level than what can be found on his Wikipedia page, then this probably should have been shelved until he is.
There are no anecdotes about things that happened during his career that might give insight to him or what the professional tennis circuit was like in the 1970s or 1980s. He does say several times that he doesn't dwell on the past and that "When it's over, it's over." Which is an odd statement to make in a book looking back on his life. I get the sense that this wasn't something that he wanted to do, and that he was asked to write a book, or he needed to write a book for another income stream.
January 17, 2026
In a way this is a hard book to review. I'm guessing we get about as much as we're going to get from Borg, who was and apparently remains quite a private person. It's interesting that he nearly wound up playing hockey instead, it's interesting that he became a tennis prodigy through quite hard work. The rise to international dominance I was quite conversant with, and, also, the fact that his desire to play literally evaporated from him once he achieved that dominance. I knew about some of his post-tennis troubles but I had presumed he had gone to rehab privately. Does not appear to be the case, and that is concerning for me, even though it seems to have worked for him. I think the hints he placed about his family dynamics -- both when things were going well and during his drug/alcohol lows -- seemed to suggest he wanted to say more about that, but he didn't. I'm sure he's quite aware of the Agassi and McEnroe memoirs and preferred a story that his comfort level could live with, and we who are tennis fans and grew up with these players will have to live with that comfort level, too.
October 6, 2025
If you’re not a tennis fan, you might want to take a pass on this. I’ve followed Bjorn Borg’s career for years and the descriptions of his inner life as well as the suspense of his various tennis tournaments fascinated me. Also, for a player seen as reserved and emotionless both on court and off this autobiography is surprisingly open. Maybe even too open.
I do have some caveats. Borg had a string of difficult relationships and they are detailed here. Those who have strong negative feelings about men and their ability to connect are likely to have issues with these sections. But I have compassion for human frailty ( as well as compassion for those he eventually left).
He doesn’t flinch from revealing past problems with drugs. He regrets the time he missed with one son. The emotional side of Borg and his willingness to reveal those feelings took me by surprise. I recommend this for anyone who wants to know more about Borg- or for tennis fans in general.
I do have some caveats. Borg had a string of difficult relationships and they are detailed here. Those who have strong negative feelings about men and their ability to connect are likely to have issues with these sections. But I have compassion for human frailty ( as well as compassion for those he eventually left).
He doesn’t flinch from revealing past problems with drugs. He regrets the time he missed with one son. The emotional side of Borg and his willingness to reveal those feelings took me by surprise. I recommend this for anyone who wants to know more about Borg- or for tennis fans in general.
January 8, 2026
Knocked out in the third round, 3/5
This book was an easy going read and there were a lot of anecdotes and stories from over the years (matches, trophies, celebrities, travel). He achieved so much, so young and tennis was a different game back then, so the book is a pleasurable read for tennis fans. However, it was predominantly factual and there wasn’t much depth, contrary to the publisher hype. Borg won a lot, partied hard, screwed up some relationships, scrambled to find his feet in retirement… a typical script of so many sports stars, especially from that era. Perhaps I expected too much, but given his incredible sporting life and subsequent struggles there is probably a lot more to delve into beyond the casual tales. Also, he’s good friends with McEnroe and Becker and all of them have their psychological scars - I’d love to know what they discuss, that would be fascinating. Borg is naturally quiet and private, and I respect that, however perhaps that was a barrier to really opening up like Agassi did in his book. I came away thinking it was a missed opportunity to offer some intelligent reflection and it felt like it was more of a project for his wife (the ghostwriter) than him.
This book was an easy going read and there were a lot of anecdotes and stories from over the years (matches, trophies, celebrities, travel). He achieved so much, so young and tennis was a different game back then, so the book is a pleasurable read for tennis fans. However, it was predominantly factual and there wasn’t much depth, contrary to the publisher hype. Borg won a lot, partied hard, screwed up some relationships, scrambled to find his feet in retirement… a typical script of so many sports stars, especially from that era. Perhaps I expected too much, but given his incredible sporting life and subsequent struggles there is probably a lot more to delve into beyond the casual tales. Also, he’s good friends with McEnroe and Becker and all of them have their psychological scars - I’d love to know what they discuss, that would be fascinating. Borg is naturally quiet and private, and I respect that, however perhaps that was a barrier to really opening up like Agassi did in his book. I came away thinking it was a missed opportunity to offer some intelligent reflection and it felt like it was more of a project for his wife (the ghostwriter) than him.
November 21, 2025
Flat and dry memoir, self-absorbed even by world-class athlete standards, and very little reflection about the personal issues that scream out to the reader: the inability to be alone, living so close to his parents all his life (like, in the same house or next door close), the lack of friends outside of tennis, the not wanting to leave the house, the strict training and eating regimen decades after he was competitive, the "self punishment" for lapses, the glossed-over drug addiction and overdose, the overlapping romances and marriages. We get these facts spooled out over the course of the (badly edited, lots of repetition and typos) book but you never are engaged with Borg or even particularly sympathetic to his challenges. This book reads like it was dictated rather than written, and dictated by a slightly dim, slightly bored man.
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