SuperSwede v SuperBrat on film

STOCKHOLM: The heated rivalry between Swede Bjorn Borg and American John McEnroe is the centerpiece of a new film on the famous battles between the tennis greats both on and off the court.

Borg/McEnroe, starring Swedish actor Sverrir Gudnason as Borg and US actor Shia LaBeouf as McEnroe, traces the rivalry between the players at the 1980 Wimbledon Final, considered to be one of the best matches played.

Borg, then 24, was cool, calm and collected, while McEnroe, 21, was seen as tennis’s bad boy, sometimes getting into shouting matches with umpires.

The film, shooting in Sweden and scheduled for release next year, will also star veteran Swedish actor Stellan Skarsgard as Borg’s coach Lennart Bergelin.

LaBeouf said he is “pretty confident” about the film, and hoped McEnroe would be among the first to see the movie.

“I’m excited to show him the movie and I’m sure he’ll see it before everyone,” LaBeouf said. – Reuters