In January 1983, tennis legend Björn Borg retired at the remarkably young age of 26. To call the move unexpected was an understatement. The word shocking is more apropos. He subsequently claimed that his life had become a circus.

The Swede decided to attempt a comeback in April 1991 at the age of 34. As you’ll see in the video below, it did not go well.

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A Different World

Borg’s comeback did not go well.

In his first nine matches, the once-great Borg won nary a single set. One of the main culprits: He still sported his wooden racket—making him an iconoclast. All of the top players had moved to more advanced materials.

Here’s a photo of his vintage Bancroft model:

The Case for a Data-Oriented Approach to Research and Writing

Publishing Parallels

I think quite a bit about Borg’s choice of tools after his peers had moved on, especially in the context of contemporary publishing. Is your current or prospective publisher still using a wooden racket? If so, then ask yourself if it makes sense to upgrade.