This year marks the 50th anniversary of Bjorn Borg’s first Wimbledon victory: the first of five consecutive victories in the Wimbledon men’s singles.
Borg was just 20 years of age, this being his fourth appearance in the Wimbledon men’s singles. Twice he’d reached the quarter finals, including the year prior. In that 1975 encounter he lost in four sets to eventual winner Arthur Ashe.
Though not having a Wimbledon victory, Borg had already tasted Grand Slam success. Twice he’d won the men’s singles in the French Open, firstly in 1974 when he came back from two sets to love down to defeat Spain’s Manuel Orantes. Borg had turned 18 only a fortnight prior to this victory. He was on his way. In 1975 he had a straight sets victory in the French Open final over Argentina’s Guillermo Vilas. With these victories his ranking had risen, and he was seeded fourth at Wimbledon. Now, could he win a Grand Slam tournament on grass?
At Wimbledon Borg methodically moved through the field, not dropping a set. He started against local favourite David Lloyd, a semi-finalist in 1973. However, Lloyd provided scant opposition as Borg won 6-3, 6-3, 6-1. This was followed by straight sets wins over American Marty Riessen, Australian Colin Dibley, and then the fourteenth seeded American Brian Gottfried. Borg had now reached the quarter finals for the third time – how much further could he go?
Awaiting him was sixth seed Guillermo Vilas. Borg ended his career with a 17-5 win-loss record over Vilas. Thrice they met in Grand Slam clashes, Borg winning them all. This encounter was one of those occasions, with Borg romping home 6-3, 6-0, 6-2. Borg had surpassed his previous best at Wimbledon; the semi-finals beckoned next, and his opponent would be the big-serving seventh seed from Lookout Mountain, Tennessee, Roscoe Tanner.
The left-handed Tanner was renowned for his service. In 1978 Tanner was recorded serving at 246 kph, 153 mph, in the old measurements. He pushed Borg in their semi-final, going down 6-4, 9-8, 6-4. In 1976 the tie break was taken at 8 games all. This semi-final tie break Borg proved too steady taking it 7-1.
Borg was in the final. He’d twice won finals on grass courts, both times he’d defeated New Zealand’s Onny Parun. The initial victory was Auckland in 1974, this was also his first tournament victory. Could he now win a Grand Slam tournament on grass?
In the final he faced Rumania’s Ilie Nastase. Nastase was the third seed. The fiery Rumanian had been a Wimbledon finalist in 1972, going down in five sets to America’s Stan Smith. Then in 1973, as Wimbledon’s playing ranks were devastated by a player boycott organised by the Association of Tennis Players, Nastase was the top seed. However, he was defeated in the fourth round by the American Alexander ‘Sandy’ Mayer. (You can read more here: 1973). Could he redeem this all by winning in 1976?
The final saw the fourth seed take on the third seed. These were the two form players of the tournament, neither dropping a set on their way to the final. Nastase had won 7 of the 10 clashes between the pair. The crowds settled back on a ‘hot’ British Sunday. (More mention of the weather later).
Nastase with an early break took a 3-0 lead, then missed a break point for a 4-0 lead. At 4-4 Borg held service, then he got on top in the tenth game breaking Nastase to 15. In the second set Borg was quickly away. Despite opening the first set slowly he’d win 12 of the next 15 games. Nastase glared, tried various distractions, but Borg was having none of it. Up two sets to love the championship was his for the taking.
Nastase fought back in the final set, but the young Swede was not to be denied. Borg found himself at 5-4 serving for the Championship, but Nastase was not done. He broke back, determined to grab the title. The two men edged their way through the set, before Borg got the crucial break, prior to serving out the match. Nastase was unlucky not to get to a tie-break, as Borg took the set 9-7. His love affair with Wimbledon was underway with further glories awaiting him.
Aged 20 years and one month, Borg was the youngest men’s singles champion since American Sidney Wood won it as 19-year-old in 1931. He was also the first man in the Open Era, 1968 until now, to win Wimbledon without dropping a set. Nastase was always one to have the last word, and provided the following to an ingenuous reporter. He was asked: “Are you disappointed?” Nastase replied: “No I am very happy, next stupid question.”
How did the Australians perform, you may wonder? Second seed Evonne Goolagong-Cawley reached the women’s final, losing to top seeded American Chris Evert in a three-set tussle. The scoreline, 6-3, 4-6, 8-6, presented Evert with her second Wimbledon singles title, another coming in 1981. As well as being Evert’s second Wimbledon singles crown, it also being the second consecutive final loss by Goolagong-Cawley, who’d been stopped in 1975 by legendary American Billie Jean-King 6-0, 6-1.
The Queensland pairing of Ross Case and Geoff Masters reached the men’s doubles final, but were beaten in a gruelling five setter by America’s Brian Gottfried and Mexico’s Raul Ramirez 3-6, 6-3, 8-6, 2-6, 7-5. Tony Roche teamed with France’s François Durr to claim the mixed doubles. They were taken to three sets by the American pairing of Dick Stockton and Rosie Casals, before triumphing 6-3, 2-6, 7-5. These were the Australian highlights in 1976.
Roche, along with John Newcombe, was one of the two Australian men seeded. Also among the Australian contingent in 1976 was Mark Edmondson, who won the Australian Open on grass a few months prior.
The Australian men didn’t cover themselves in glory. Tenth seeded Newcombe went down in four sets to unheralded South African Bernie Mitton in the third round. Newcombe’s Australian Open conqueror Mark Edmondson went out in the same round, losing in straight sets to reigning Wimbledon champion Arthur Ashe. Twelfth seed Tony Roche reached the fourth round losing in five sets to sixth seeded Guillermo Vilas. Also in the fourth round was Sydneysider Phil Dent, who led American Charles Pasarell two sets to love before being rolled.
So, what does Wimbledon 2026 have in store for us, and how will it compare to 50 years prior? In an increasingly hotter world what does a modern English summer hold? Interestingly, the English summer of 1976 was very hot, a severe heatwave capped off by a drought lasting from May until August. During that same summer England hosted the West Indian cricket team. In the lead up to the opening test England’s captain Tony Greig spoke of making the West Indies grovel; famous last words, with the visitors winning 3-0. Anyhow that’s possibly another story, for another time.
Glen!
More from Glen! can be read Here.
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