THE RENSHAW CUP, 1976

No VAT will be charged on the hammer price, but VA… Read more

THE FOLLOWING THREE LOTS RELATE TO THE CAREER OF BJORN BORG Born in Stockholm in 1956, Bjorn Borg went on to become a twentieth century sporting icon. In 1972, at the age of 15, Borg became one of the youngest players ever to represent his country in the Davis Cup. Later that year, he won the Wimbledon junior singles title. In 1973 he entered the Wimbledon Championships and reached the quarter finals in his first year. The following year he won the French Open, becoming the youngest-ever male French Open champion at the age of 18. This feat was repeated in 1976 when he swept through Wimbledon without losing a set, defeating the much-favoured Ilie Nastase in the Final. At the age of 20 years and 1 month he became the youngest male Wimbledon champion. Borg repeated his Wimbledon triumph in the following four consecutive years, winning also the French Open in 1978, '79 and '80. His last Grand Slam title was the French Open in 1981 - his six French Open titles remain a record for a male player. In the same year he reached the Wimbledon Final for the sixth consecutive year, but was defeated by John McEnroe. Between 1973 and 1981, in the nine attempts at the Men's Singles title at Wimbledon, Borg won 51 matches and lost 4. Between his 1975 Quarter-Final defeat by Arthur Ashe, and his loss in the 1981 Final to McEnroe, Borg won 41 consecutive singles at Wimbledon including five consecutive Championship titles. In 1983 Borg announced his retirement from the game at the age of 26. During his career he had won a total of 77 top-level singles and 4 doubles titles. In 1979 he won the BBC Sports Personality of the Year, Overseas Personality award and in 1987 he was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame. His remarkable career is still fondly remembered by fans today and last year he won the BBC's Lifetime Achievement award.

Details

THE RENSHAW CUP, 1976
a miniature silver Renshaw Cup trophy, the shallow bowl supported by a winged figure of Mercury, the bowl engraved "The Renshaw Cup, B. Borg", on octagonal base, hallmarked London, 1973, 7in. (18cm.) high

Special notice

No VAT will be charged on the hammer price, but VAT at 15% will be added to the buyer's premium which is invoiced on a VAT inclusive basis.

Lot Essay

The above Renshaw Cup was awarded to Bjorn Borg after winning his first Wimbledon title in 1976. Borg swept through Wimbledon in 1976 without losing a set, defeating the much-favoured Ilie Nastase in the final. In doing so, Borg became the youngest male Wimbledon champion of the modern era at 20 years and 1 month (a record broken by Boris Becker, who won Wimbledon aged 17 in 1985). Some speculate that Borg's surviving the first week of Wimbledon, when the courts were slick and fast, was the key to his success. This might have been due to the unusually hot conditions that summer. The courts played slower in the second week, which suited Borg's baseline game. In the Final Borg defeated Nastase 6/4, 6/2, 9/7.

The winner of the Men's Wimbledon Singles Championships were presented with three trophies - the Challenge Cup, the Renshaw Cup and the President's Cup. The Renshaw Cup was presented to winners from 1905 to 1989. Originally, full size trophies were presented, but after 1949 these were replaced by miniature trophies.

More from Cricket, Tennis, Golf & Traditional Sport

View All