Lennart Bergelin
Encyclopedia
Lennart Bergelin was a Swedish tennis
player and coach. As a player, for AIK, Bergelin won nine Swedish championship singles titles between 1945 and 1955, and the French Open doubles title in 1948. Bergelin is best known for his work with Björn Borg
, whom he trained between 1971 and 1983, helping him to win 11 Grand Slam tournaments. Bergelin also captained Sweden to its first Davis Cup title.
During a ten-year period, between 1946 and 1955, Bergelin was ranked among the top 10 amateur players in the world. He won 20 national championships (9 singles and 11 doubles) and became the first Swedish player ever to win a grand slam, as he and Jaroslav Drobný
won the French doubles championship in 1948. Bergelin played 89 Davis Cup
matches representing Sweden and won 63 of these. He played the last DC game, at the age of 40, together with Jan-Erik Lundqvist. Between 1971 and 1976, Bergelin captained the Swedish DC team and in 1975 he led them to victory as they defeated Czechoslovakia
in the finals.
Bergelin was awarded the Svenska Dagbladet Gold Medal
in 1950.
Peter Bengtsson, a spokesman for the Swedish Tennis Association, said Bergelin died from heart failure at a Stockholm hospital.
Tennis
Tennis is a sport usually played between two players or between two teams of two players each . Each player uses a racket that is strung to strike a hollow rubber ball covered with felt over a net into the opponent's court. Tennis is an Olympic sport and is played at all levels of society at all...
player and coach. As a player, for AIK, Bergelin won nine Swedish championship singles titles between 1945 and 1955, and the French Open doubles title in 1948. Bergelin is best known for his work with Björn Borg
Björn Borg
Björn Rune Borg is a former world no. 1 tennis player from Sweden. Between 1974 and 1981 he won 11 Grand Slam singles titles. He won five consecutive Wimbledon singles titles and six French Open singles titles...
, whom he trained between 1971 and 1983, helping him to win 11 Grand Slam tournaments. Bergelin also captained Sweden to its first Davis Cup title.
During a ten-year period, between 1946 and 1955, Bergelin was ranked among the top 10 amateur players in the world. He won 20 national championships (9 singles and 11 doubles) and became the first Swedish player ever to win a grand slam, as he and Jaroslav Drobný
Jaroslav Drobný
Jaroslav Drobný was an amateur tennis champion as well as being an ice hockey player for the Czechoslovakian national team...
won the French doubles championship in 1948. Bergelin played 89 Davis Cup
Davis Cup
The Davis Cup is the premier international team event in men's tennis. It is run by the International Tennis Federation and is contested between teams of players from competing countries in a knock-out format. The competition began in 1900 as a challenge between Britain and the United States. By...
matches representing Sweden and won 63 of these. He played the last DC game, at the age of 40, together with Jan-Erik Lundqvist. Between 1971 and 1976, Bergelin captained the Swedish DC team and in 1975 he led them to victory as they defeated Czechoslovakia
Czechoslovakia
Czechoslovakia or Czecho-Slovakia was a sovereign state in Central Europe which existed from October 1918, when it declared its independence from the Austro-Hungarian Empire, until 1992...
in the finals.
Bergelin was awarded the Svenska Dagbladet Gold Medal
Svenska Dagbladet Gold Medal
The Svenska Dagbladet Gold Medal is an annual award "for the most significant Swedish sports achievement of the year". It has been awarded by a jury led by the Swedish morning paper Svenska Dagbladet since 1925. According to its statutes the Medal may be awarded in November or December to either...
in 1950.
Peter Bengtsson, a spokesman for the Swedish Tennis Association, said Bergelin died from heart failure at a Stockholm hospital.