Battle of rivals on big screen

American actor Shia LaBoeuf plays John McEnroe (left) and Sweden's Sverrir Gudnason is Bjorn Borg. Photo: supplied
American actor Shia LaBoeuf plays John McEnroe (left) and Sweden's Sverrir Gudnason is Bjorn Borg. Photo: supplied

The film Borg McEnroe, which traces the fierce rivalry between tennis greats Bjorn Borg and John McEnroe on and off the court, has premiered in Swedish capital Stockholm.

The movie, starring Swedish actor Sverrir Gudnason as Borg and American Shia LaBeouf as McEnroe, centres on the battle between the two in the 1980 Wimbledon men's singles final.

That hard-fought duel, which was won by Borg in the fifth and final set, is widely considered to be one of the greatest tennis matches in history.

Borg and McEnroe were often seen as polar opposites in terms of on-court personality.

While Sweden's Borg always remained calm and focused, his fiery American rival was famed for his on-court tantrums and tirades at tournament umpires.

Bjorn Borg with John McEnroe at Wimbledon. Photo: Getty Images
Bjorn Borg with John McEnroe at Wimbledon. Photo: Getty Images

"I think the actors did a great job," Borg told Reuters at the premiere in Stockholm. "It's strange to see yourself on the screen, but I'm really happy with the movie."

The film opens to the general public in Sweden on Friday and will be screened at the Toronto Film Festival this week.

Veteran Swedish actor Stellan Skarsgard also star as Borg's coach Lennart Bergelin, while Borg's son Leo plays his father as a boy.

In the Nordic region the film's title will be simply Borg, a spokeswoman for the distributor said. 

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