In the ’70s and ’80s era, the tennis community witnessed an unmatched rivalry between the two legends of the game, Bj?rn Borg and John McEnroe. The ATP legends’ incredible prowess was often on display during their matches while they adorned the courts with their presence. During their illustrious journeys on the tour, Borg and McEnroe amassed a combined 18 singles Grand Slam titles by outclassing some elite competitors. As their eras passed, then came the dominance of the likes of Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal, and the latter’s coach once had a choice comparison to make!

To have a player crossing the skillset of the yesteryear tennis aces would be nothing short of a dream. But according to the assertions made by a certain Spanish tennis coach, once upon a time, there is one player in the men’s circuit who meets the criteria. Unsurprisingly, he is also a part of the ‘Big Three’ of tennis.

Rafael Nadal is an ATP legend crossed between Bj?rn Borg and John McEnroe

Veteran tennis coach and former ATP World No. 1 Carlos Moya once compared Borg and McEnroe’s rivalry to that shared by Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal while calling it one of the greatest on the tour. In the process, almost 12 long years ago, he issued a bold statement about his compatriot.

In Nadal?s autobiography ‘Rafa: My Story’, the 47-year-old said, ?Rafa is a cross between the two players who staged the greatest rivalry tennis had seen until Nadal and Federer came along. Borg was pure ice, McEnroe was all fire.? Carlos Moya called the 22-time singles Grand Slam champion,? Rafael Nadal, a combination of the two ATP legends who carved out remarkable legacies in their time on court.

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While making a staggering statement about Nadal, the Spanish coach reminded everyone how Borg was labeled as ‘pure ice’ and his American rival was called ‘fire,’ given their fierce on-court encounters. Speaking about the unmatched rivalry between the two tennis greats, let’s take a look at their H2H record.

How many times Borg and McEnroe have locked horns with each other?

During their competitive journey, the ATP icons have faced each other on 14 occasions, with their head-to-head record tied at 7-7. However, in their Grand Slam meetings, it was the American tennis legend who had the upper hand. They squared off against each other 4 times in major tournaments, with McEnroe prevailing in three major matchups.

In 1981, the ‘Superbrat’ won both his US Open and Wimbledon title matches against his former Swedish colleague. Even in the previous season, Borg and McEnroe met each other at the same tournaments with the American clinching the hard court major title, and his arch-rival marked the grass-court triumph.

What do you think of Nadal being labeled as a cross between the two tennis greats? Let us know in the comments section.

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