There are two tennis biopics rolling into theaters this year. The most talked about of the pair is The Battle of The Sexes, which stars Steve Carell opposite La La Land‘s Emma Stone. That movie is sure to play well with critics and moviegoers, but those looking for something a bit more unique may find just what they need in Borg vs McEnroe.
It’s the summer of 1980 and Björn Borg (Sverrir Gudnason) is the top tennis player in the world, dominating the sport both on and off the court. A powerful and rigorously disciplined player, there is only one obstacle in his pursuit of a record-breaking fifth Wimbledon championship: the highly talented but ferociously abrasive young American, John McEnroe (a perfectly cast Shia LaBeouf).
With three days until the tournament begins, Borg trains religiously in his lavish Monaco home, aided by his coach and mentor Lennart (Stellan Skarsgård) and girlfriend Mariana (Tuva Novotny). But McEnroe’s explosive confidence and wrecking-ball persona continue to infiltrate Borg’s ice-cool and normally unshakable temperament. With each man the antithesis of the other, both players delve into their formative memories as the climactic tournament draws near and anticipation reaches fever pitch.
A new international trailer for Borg vs McEnroe arrived online earlier this week. In it, viewers are thrust into the heat of battle, as each contender struggles with the pressure of their position while trying to prepare for a match that the world will be watching. You can view the footage above.
Borg vs McEnroe rolls into theaters internationally at the end of September. A stateside release should follow not long after. Stay tuned.
