SWEDE'S BURNING DESIRE
"Evening Standard" report, Tuesday 14 June 1994
 

STEFAN EDBERG, the 28-year-old who has won Wimbledon twice, has given up all thoughts of being world No 1 again.  "For me to get back to No 1 would be impossible," says the London-based Swede who led the field for two years but  admits he now lacks consistency.

 

"It showed this year.  I've played well for a few months.  Then I had a bad May and that day at Queen's when I hit four double faults in the last game to lose.  Boris (Becker) won't come back to where he once was because he is not consistent enough and has lost his edge.  He's going to play some good tennis but in shorter bursts.  It won't be enough to get him back to No 1.  It's the same for me."

 

However, the world No 3 believes he can win one more Grand Slam tournament and is aiming to complete his Wimbledon hat-trick at this Championships, which  begin on Monday.  "I've had a lot of success.  Winning six Grand Slams isn't too bad but I still think I can win another.  That's my aim and why I carry on," says Edberg.  "And I feel this could be my year if every-thing comes together.  The competition is hot but the important thing for me is that I believe I have a chance this year.  I'm still capable of playing good tennis and I still enjoy what I'm doing.  I might not show emotion on court, yet I still have fire burning within me.  A real fire.  I remain determined."  He is convinced the Edberg-Becker axis is still alive at Wimbledon.  He says: "People think of us as being in the past but we both reached the semis last year."

 

Edberg has suffered increased back problems this year.  The wear and tear on his body is immense after 11 years on the circuit.  You wonder how he keeps it going and for how much longer.  He explains: "You need to put your mind 100 per cent on tennis in order to succeed. You have to live with it.  I havedone it for very many years.  It's the only way to get to the top.  It means a lot of self discipline when you force yourself out to practice even when you don't feel good.  It's tough to keep going year in, year out.  And I  don't know how much longer I can keep doing it.  I'm sure I'll wake up one day and say 'I've had enough of this'.  Once that attitude gets into your mind it's all going to change.  If you're not working hard enough you'll be found out.  You only have to look at the rankings list to see.  It's very tough up there but you can slip very quickly.

 

"What is crucial is that before you start to slip you get a hold of yourself and say, 'OK, I'm starting from zero, but this is what I'm going to do.  I'm going to put my game back together.'  It doesn't matter what you've done in the past.  Once you start to slide you have to stop it.  It's a constant motivation and why I've stayed at the top so long."

 

Even a contented home life with fatherhood - Annette presenting him with a daughter, Emilie, 11 months ago - has not dulled his appetite to win that one last Grand Slam.  Just the opposite.  He says: "Being a father has helped me become a little more relaxed with myself, more patient, which helps my tennis.  Fatherhood has been better than I expected.  But it changes your life and is a big responsibility.  You have someone very small to take care of with your wife.  They are totally dependent on you.  That is why when she

gets sick it's the thing that worries me the most.  I get scared."

 

Edberg describes himself as a simple person with simple tastes.  He likes going to the movies and eating out and watching Mr Bean on television.  And he has a simple philosophy of life.  The son of a policeman, he says: "I want to try and be a good citizen.  Be on the right side of the law.  I  believe that everyone has a chance in life if you work hard and I try to be honest."

 

Such a decent chap deserves to win one more Grand Slam and it could be at the All England Club this year.