Swedish legend Björn Borg recently opened a new chapter in his life off the pitch in his memoir Heartbeats. While Borg’s 11 Grand Slam titles and his famous rivalry with John McEnroe are well documented, the book offers some surprising revelations about the methods he used to gain an advantage.
Among the most striking is his admission that after a heartbreaking US Open defeat in 1979, he consulted a psychic medium. “She told me that the stars never aligned for me at the US Open and that I would never win there, and I never did,” Borg writes. In an excerpt quoted by the NY Times, he continues: “It was uncanny how precise she was. But I was thrilled and continued to work with her for the next three years.” It’s a glimpse into the unconventional distances one of the sport’s most disciplined athletes would go to improve his performance.
Find a competitive advantage
While Borg’s decision to consult a medium may seem unusual, he is by no means alone in seeking advice beyond traditional training. Football legends such as Glenn Hoddle, who worked with a faith healer during his time as England manager, Paolo Maldini, who reportedly turned to a spiritual advisor during his time at AC Milan, and Diego Maradona, who was known for advising shamans and spiritualists throughout his career, show that top athletes in various sports have occasionally used unconventional methods to sharpen their focus or recover from setbacks.
Players have also explored similar approaches in tennis. Novak Djokovic has spoken at length about the role of meditation, visualization and energy-focused routines in his preparation, while Andre Agassi praised holistic mentors for helping him deal with pressure and refine his game.
Borg’s story, while rare, sheds light on athletes who resort to non-traditional strategies to gain a competitive advantage. In fact, its approval, more than four decades later, comes at a time when the practice of mediumship and spiritualism is far more mainstream. Tyler Henry rose to fame through his readings for A-list celebrities on E! Entertainment and then got his own series on Netflix in 2022. Likewise, Theresa Caputo became a psychic celebrity with her long-running show Long Island Medium. Mystic Meg even got her own casino bingo game in the form of Mystic Meg Bingo, the former National Lottery psychic who takes her small screen personality into the world of iGaming.
A compelling reminder
Heartbeats, released in the US in September, also delves into Borg’s relationships, friendships and lifestyle surrounding his career. He remembers the time he spent in New York with his close friend and fellow player Vitas Gerulaitis, who introduced him to the glamor of Studio 54, and meeting icons such as Elton John, Mick Jagger and Paul Simon.
But Borg emphasizes that these experiences were more about finding balance in the structure of professional tennis than about enjoyment. He reflects on his early adoption of meditation, yoga, a strict diet, and pioneering use of a full-time travel trainer and regular sports massages. These practices, many of which were unconventional at the time, are now commonplace in elite tennis preparation.
The memoir presents Borg as both an athlete and an individual grappling with fame, sports, and personal curiosity. The revelation about consulting a psychic, while surprising, fits with this broader quest for understanding and competitive advantage, and shows that even the seemingly stalwart “Ice Borg” explored unusual ways to sharpen his legendary edge.