John McEnroe's 1981 Wimbledon final was an epic battle between two of the greatest tennis players of all time. McEnroe, the defending champion, faced off against Bjorn Borg, who was looking to win his fifth consecutive Wimbledon title. The match was a classic, with
The Borg–McEnroe rivalry was a tennis rivalry between Björn Borg and John McEnroe, who met 14 times on the regular tour and 22 times in total between November 1978 and September 1981. Their head-to-head was even at 7–7. Their on-court rivalry was highlighted by their contrasting temperaments and playing styles: the Swede Borg was known for his cool and emotionless demeanor on court, while the American McEnroe was famed for his court-side tantrums. As a result, their rivalry was described as "Fire and Ice". They were tied in their five-set matches at 1–1.