EINDHOVEN (The Netherlands), Oct 6: John McEnroe downed Bjorn Borg 7-6, (6), 7-6 (4) at Eindhoven’s Tennis Classics on Friday, the eighth event on the ATP’s Tour of Champions.

Bjorn Borg recovered from a stomach virus in time to meet the American in front of a capacity crowd of 4,800.

The two faced each other 14 times on the ATP Tour, Davis Cup and Grand Slam play, each winning seven times.

Before Roger Federer’s 6-4, 6-0 win over Andy Roddick in the Thailand Open final in 2004, McEnroe and Borg were the only players to win 12 straight ATP Tour finals in the last 25 years.

McEnroe will face the five-time Wimbledon champion at Liege in Belgium for the Panasonic Legends Cup in November before clashing again in the BlackRock Masters at London’s Royal Albert Hall in December.

Earlier on Friday, Richard Krajicek defeated Carl Uwe Steeb 6-3, 6-4 while Sergi Bruguera beat Thomas Muster 6-3, 6-2. Also, Paul Haarhuis beat Henri Leconte 1-6, 6-1, 10-3.—AP