Amidst scenes usually associated with popstars, a young Swede changed the face of tennis when he made his debut at Wimbledon for the 1973 Championships.

Wimbledon's organisers certainly didn't quite know how to deal with the new phenomenon and were appalled at the hordes of teenage girls swamping the hallowed courts in their heels and security had to be introduced to keep the youngster safe from the adoring fans who had fallen for his shy looks, long blond hair and obvious sporting talent.

Little did anyone know then that Bjorn Borg, 17, would grow into a tennis legend, winning five consecutive singles titles plus six French Opens to eventually retire, surprisingly, at the age of 25.

His double-handed top-spinning prowess became the standard but all that was to come, for although he accepted that he was an exceptional talent - he reached the quarter-finals where he lost in a dramatic five setter to Britain's Roger Taylor - Borg's main impact in 1973 was the effect he had on the public.

No other player, apart perhaps from the redoubtable Suzanne Lenglen in the twenties, had a tennis player captured the public imagination in such a manner. 1973 was also the year of the boycott, so the fans were keen to find a focal point and who better than this unknown and unassuming teenager.

Despite being seeded at six - the youngest male player to be seeded - Borg had no greater ambition than winning his first match at Wimbledon but it was during that encounter that he became conscious of what was in store for him as hundreds of girls seated courtside, were constantly applauding and screaming.

Not only that but after the match, on his way to the village, he was 'attacked' by about three hundred fans and dragged along the road, where he was pinned down for some 15-minutes before being rescued by the police.

The following day his play brought rave reviews from the sports writers with headlines like 'A Star is Bjorn' and when he won his second round match on Court 2 - another straight sets victory - he was mobbed on court by 'weeny-boppers' or 'teeny-boppers' as they became known. The onrush also marooned the umpire in his chair while two policemen attempting to rescue the 'blond bombshell', were swept off their feet and allegedly carried away some 20 yards.

One of the policemen later declared he had never seen anything like it. "There was nothing we could do," he stated.

Borg himself was not happy as he complained that these girls were trying to pull his clothes off. "It was unbelievable. This is not fun anymore. It's not safe for me to walk around. I can't relax. I can't concentrate on my matches. I am having to stay in my dressing room all the time," he wailed.

To try an relieve the situation he announced that he had a girl friend, a certain Helena Anliot, also 17 and the Swedish junior national champion. However it made little impression on his now adoring and expanding army of fans as he progressed through the field to reach the last eight and defeat at the hands of Taylor.

With that defeat came relief as he flew back to Sweden leaving 'Borg's Brigade' behind. His final recollection was feeling embarrassed at the on court adulation he received as if he were the winner rather than loser but he was later to write about his debut at The Championships: 'There was something special about Wimbledon and London, not least the girls and fans who, although they had been troublesome, had given me unforgettably positive and festive memories."

It proved a watershed in more ways than one for not only did Wimbledon survive the 'boycott', but it had seen a new star explode onto the tennis scene in a dramatic fashion

Three years later, Borg would win his first Wimbledon singles and dominate The Championships until 1981 when he would be beaten by John McEnroe in his sixth successive final, having established in the process, a modern day record of 41 consecutive wins at Wimbledon.