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Sports legend Bjorn Borg disclosed he approaches life "day by day, year by year" following a "highly dangerous" prostate cancer diagnosis.

Borg, now 69 shared the news in the closing section of his memoir, explaining the illness was "at its most advanced stage" but he would "battle daily like it's a Wimbledon final".

Ex- top-ranked player won eleven Grand Slam titles, among them five straight Wimbledons, before suddenly stepping away at age 25.

Borg has entered recovery after an operation in 2024, but described the news as "emotionally challenging".

"I spoke to the physician and he said this is extremely serious," shared Borg.

"He mentioned you have these sleeping cancer cells and it's going to be a fight in the future."

"Every six months I go and test myself. I completed my most recent screening a fortnight back. It's a thing I have to live with."

1980 Wimbledon final called "most satisfying match I played"

Borg initially held a racquet when his dad received it in a table tennis tournament.

It was too heavy for the youthful player, prompting him to develop his unique two-handed backhand.

He won six Roland Garros championships between 1974 and 1981 and claimed his 5 All England Club titles from 1976 to 1980.

His SW19 final in 1980 against opponent John McEnroe – where McEnroe saved seven match points in a near four-hour thriller – is regarded as one of the best contests of history.

"That match was the most rewarding game I have ever experienced. It was complete," Borg stated.

The competition between them was nicknamed Fire and Ice, with McEnroe prone to fiery on-court outbursts and calm Borg barely showing a hint of feeling during a match.

McEnroe would eventually end Borg's Wimbledon dominance in the 1981 final and beat him in the American Open showpiece two months later. Borg left the sport soon after the loss in New York.

"We admired each other a lot, the three of us," commented Borg of his competitions with McEnroe and Jimmy Connors.

"We competed to be the best in the world. To do that, you cannot be best friends."

However, today, he added: "We are very good friends, me and John. We see each other, we go out for dinner, we discuss today's tennis."

"We never talk about the past games."

"I felt adrift in the world"

Borg achieved 66 professional victories, held over two years as world number one and claimed a unprecedented 41 successive wins at the Championships.

His retirement at 25 – a period when athletes are starting to peak – was a surprise.

"I was done. I lost the interest and the motivation," he said.

"Had I known what was going to happen in the years after, I would continue to play tennis."

Through his memoir, titled Heartbeats, co-written with his spouse Patricia, the usually reserved Borg speaks about his post-playing career struggles.

"I had no plan. Individuals nowadays, they have guidance. I was adrift," he stated.

"Substance use increased, there was pills, drinking, to distance myself from reality."

"I didn't have to think about it. Of course it's harmful, it damages you as a human being."

Borg was hospitalized following a medical incident in Milan in 1989 – an event which caused him to rethink life after tennis.

He came back to the professional circuit from 1991 to 1993 but failed to win a single victory.

"I was close to dying repeatedly," Borg added.

"I turned things around. I'm very happy with myself."