Bjorn Borg has strong views on Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal

Bjorn Borg did something many athletes choose not to do: He retired at the peak of his powers. In 1983, he was only 26 years old but he decided to quit playing. Sure, he came back for a couple of years in the early 1990s, but his heart did not really seem to be into playing. He is different now, though, choosing to be the captain of Team Europe, and not holding back when asked about the current state of tennis, including the futures of Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal.

According to Eurosport, Bjorn Borg thinks Nadal is just about done playing. Sure, Nadal has struggled with injuries, and expecting him ever to be 100 percent healthy for long stretches at a time is probably foolish. But Borg implied there is another reason Nadal might simply cease playing professional tennis.

Bjorn Borg hinted that maybe Nadal is just a “happy guy” and doesn’t need to try to constantly be ranked in the top 10 of tennis. Borg said, “I think Rafa…he’s not going to be in the top 10 for so many years now.

“But I think he’s a very happy guy. I mean, what he’s achieved in tennis, he will still want to continue to play (some). Maybe the body is not working 100 percent, but he still wants to play…you never know what Rafa is going to do, maybe play one more year.”

Bjorn Borg talks about two other great players

Nadal has already basically said 2024 will be his final year playing on the ATP tour, and he could even stop playing after the Summer Olympics. The hope is that after a year off, Nadal is able to play in the Australian Open in January, but there is simply no guarantee of that or how well he will do if he does play in the first Grand Slam event of the year.

As for Novak Djokovic, Bjorn Borg believes the current No. 1 will be playing at a high level for at least two more years and likely winning more majors. Said Borg, “Novak, I think he might win one or two more Grand Slam tournaments. Who knows?

“But he is doing it not for himself but for tennis and journalists. Unbelievable. He’s still pushing the limits. He wants to be the greatest…But Novak is going to be around for a few more years.”

Of course, the seemingly never-ending debate among tennis fans about who is the greatest player ever, Rafael Nadal or Novak Djokovic, is more one of which player they like the most. Going strictly off raw statistics, Djokovic is the best ever (many more weeks at No. 1 than anyone, most men’s Grand Slams, and so on). But one might wonder, too, how many more majors Bjorn Borg might have won had he decided to keep playing after the age of 26.