By IANS
London : Tennis legends Bjorn Borg and John McEnroe are among the 12 former champions due to take the court at the BlackRock Masters at London’s Royal Albert Hall in December.
Five-time Wimbledon champion Borg last played at the event in 2000 and has accepted a wildcard for the event, reports BBC Sport.
“It’s like coming back to Wimbledon. Matches are matches and I missed the Tour,” said the 51-year-old Swede.
“It’s an opportunity to see the guys again. It’s a great atmosphere off the court with them.” He added: “We have a lot of fun, it’s a nice feeling and I missed them.”
The former world number one has tipped Spain’s Rafael Nadal to claim a first Wimbledon title in 2008.
Three-time French Open champion Nadal lost to Roger Federer in the 2006 and 2007 All England Club finals, but Borg expects him to end that run next year.
“If I would pick a winner for Wimbledon next year, I’d pick Nadal,” Borg said. “He’s really ready to win Wimbledon.
“He knows he can play on grass now and he knows he can win at Wimbledon. He’s improving every year.”
Like Nadal, Borg’s game was more suited to clay, but the Swedish legend adapted his game to win five successive titles on the Wimbledon grass between 1976-80.
Federer equalled that record by defeating Nadal in a hard-fought, five-set battle this summer but Borg expects Nadal to now show he has championship credentials on all surfaces.
“Rafael was unlucky not to win the final (this year),” said Borg.
“He can play on any surface, he wants to prove to the whole world that he can win Grand Slam tournaments on different surfaces and I’m sure he will, absolutely.”