Here are some interesting facts (for Borg fans anyway) from wikipedia: "In 2008, ESPN.com asked tennis analysts, writers, and former players to build the perfect open era player. Borg was the only player mentioned in four categories—defense, footwork, intangibles, and mental toughness—with his mental game and footwork singled-out as the best in open era history." Also, "Borg's physical conditioning was legendary as he could outlast most of his opponents under the most grueling conditions. Contrary to popular belief, however, this wasn't due to his exceptionally low resting heart rate, often reported to be near 35 beats per minute. In his introduction to Borg's autobiography My Life and Game, Eugene Scott relates that this myth arose from a medical exam the 18-year-old Borg once took for military service, where his pulse was recorded as 38. Scott goes on to reveal Borg's true pulse rate as "about 50 when he wakes up and around 60 in the afternoon." Borg is credited with helping to develop the style of play that has come to dominate the game today. " I personally think that Borg has served as great modern inspiration for both Federer and Nadal, and many others. Nadal, Federer, Sampras, and even a older Agasssi play/played the game the way "it is supposed to be played", much like Borg did. Such players revere/revered Borg much more so than Connors or Borg for those main reasons. He combined unmatched athleticism, with a mind like a "super computer" as well as unmatched sportsmanship. Simply put, when he would lose rarely, he would never say for example, try to create distractions/crown noise, etc. to somehow "change the flow of the match" (Connors, McEnroe, Nastase, and Serena all do/did this by the way). Modern players such as Sampras, Agassi, Nadal, and Federer were undoubtedly influenced by Borg's "never say die" playing style, which was coupled with a unflappable demeanor. It was extremely difficult to EVER rattle/distract Borg. If one tried it would only cause Borg to grow stronger during a match. He was truly a "silent assassin". He played an "athletic" style of tennis that had never been seen before, by using fitness and speed in the men's game in a revolutionary way. So, even the great Roger Federer is actually a LOT like Bjorn Borg. They have many similarities and I am sure Borg was one of his idols growing up in Switzerland. The same is true for Nadal, who is very well behaved on the court and who always plays the game the way it was meant to be played, with great reverence. There was no Borg for Borg to follow, he was the first, but I assert that he has been the most influential player perhaps in the history of the game, which is a somewhat different, but related argument to the very interesting arguments as to who is truly the "greatest of all time". He absolutely revolutionized the sport.