Birger Andersson (tennis)

Nils Birger Lennart Andersson (born 26 March 1951) is a former professional tennis player from Sweden.

For the Finnish Olympic rower, see Birger Andersson (rower).
Birger Andersson
Full nameNils Birger Lennart Andersson
Country (sports) Sweden
Born (1951-03-26) 26 March 1951
Bodafors, Sweden
PlaysRight-handed
Singles
Career record39–70
Career titles1
Highest rankingNo. 88 (26 June 1975)
Grand Slam singles results
French Open1R (1975, 1976, 1978)
Wimbledon3R (1975)
US Open1R (1975)
Doubles
Career record14–56
Career titles0
Grand Slam doubles results
French Open1R (1975, 1978)
Wimbledon1R (1975)
US Open1R (1975)

Biography

Andersson is best remembered for his performances for Sweden when they won the 1975 Davis Cup, the country's first title. Still a rookie, he had played professionally for only a few months before he got the Davis Cup call up.[1] Up until the final he occupied the No. 2 singles position, behind Björn Borg.[2] Although he didn't play in the final, he was responsible for Sweden making it that far, as he twice won the fifth and deciding match of a knockout tie.[3] For his feats during the tournament he was given the nickname "Bragd-Birger".[4]

In the Europe Zone quarter-final against West Germany, he defeated Karl Meiler in straight sets, to win the tie for Sweden.[5] Soon after he made the third round of the 1975 Wimbledon Championships, with wins over Tito Vázquez and Humphrey Hose.[6] He was again called upon for Sweden in the fifth rubber of the Europe Zone final against Spain in Barcelona and managed to beat José Higueras in four sets.[7] For the first time in Sweden's campaign they had home advantage when they met Chile in the Inter-Zonal semi-finals in Båstad. With Sweden leading 2–1, Andersson secured his side's place in the final by beating Patricio Cornejo in the fourth rubber.[8] Ove Bengtson was preferred over clay court specialist Andersson for the final against Czechoslovakia as the tie was played on indoor carpet.[9] In response to being asked if he felt let down losing his spot in the team for the final he responded that he believed Swedish captain Lennart Bergelin "picked the right guy".[10]

Andersson continued playing professional tournaments for the remainder of the decade and had his best Grand Prix performance in one of his last appearances, the semi-finals of the 1980 Swedish Open in Båstad.[11]

Since retiring he has worked as a gymnastics director and now coaches at the Linköping tennis academy.[12]

Career Finals

Singles: 1 (1 win)
Result W-L Date Tournament Surface Opponent Score
Win 1–0 1975 Algiers, Algeria Clay Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Nikola Špear 5–7, 2–6, 6–0, 6–1, 6–2

See also

References
  1. "Andersson Sparks Sweden". Reading Eagle. 22 September 1975. p. 21. Retrieved 30 March 2016.
  2. "Swedish tennis team captain ponders No. 2 singles choice". The Spokesman-Review. 14 December 1975. p. D4. Retrieved 31 March 2016.
  3. "Här behövs en dubbel Bragd-Birger". Hallandsposten (in Swedish). 8 July 2011. Archived from the original on 7 August 2012. Retrieved 30 March 2016.
  4. "Bodaforskillen som blev "Bragd–Birger"". Tranås Tidning (in Swedish). 10 October 2015. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 30 March 2016.
  5. "Davis Cup - Tie - Details (Germany F.R. 2:3 Sweden)". Official Davis Cup website. Retrieved 31 March 2016.
  6. "Players Archive - Birger Andersson". Official Wimbledon website. Retrieved 31 March 2016.
  7. "Swedish Cuppers best Spain". St. Petersburg Times. 28 July 1975. p. 3. Retrieved 31 March 2016.
  8. "Sports Shorts". The Sumter Daily Item. 22 September 1975. p. 2B. Retrieved 31 March 2016.
  9. "Swedish hopes with Borg". The Spokesman-Review. 19 December 1975. p. 36. Retrieved 30 March 2016.
  10. "Cup Star Not Miffed by Missing Lineup". Spokane Daily Chronicle. 18 December 1975. p. 49. Retrieved 31 March 2016.
  11. "Tennis". The Arizona Republic. 19 July 1980. p. 60. Retrieved 31 March 2016.
  12. "Bragd-Birger på hembygdskväll". Smålands Dagblad (in Swedish). 29 September 2015. Archived from the original on 19 April 2016. Retrieved 31 March 2016.
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