Even four final appearances couldn't win Borg the US Open

Having returned empty-handed from all his four forays to the final, Bjorn Borg's failure to win the US Open remains the biggest regret in what was otherwise an illustrious career.

The US Open is one of the most difficult Grand Slams to win.

And if there is one player who found it even more difficult, it was the legendary Bjorn Borg.

The Swede won the coveted Wimbledon title for five years in succession and was champion at Roland Garros (French Open) on six occasions.

At the peak of his career he chose to give the Australian Open, then the year's final major, a miss. Therefore, the US Open was the lone major that he actually failed to win. 

Borg made nine trips to New York, between 1973 and 1981. More importantly, he reached the final on four occasions - 1976, 1978, 1980-81.

However, Jimmy Connors came in his way in the final while John McEnroe prevented him from winning the elusive title in both 1980 and 1981.

The Swede probably had his best chance in his first final, in 1976, when the tournament was played on the clay courts at Forest Hills, but lost to Connors in four.

Borg isn't the lone player to have wasted four opportunities at the US Open title.

Evonne Goolagong Cawley is there for company.

The Australian, a seven time major champion, also reached four finals in New York and came up short on each occasion.

More importantly, Goolagong reached the final in successive years, between 1973-76.

While fellow-Australian Margaret Court and American Billie Jean King prevented her on the first two occasions, when the tournament was played on grass, Chris Evert came in her way in her last two appearances in the final, both played on clay.

Cawley ended her career with an 83.33 per cent success rate at the US Open, despite failing to win the title even once.

The only other instance, across all majors, when a player reached the final on as many as four occasions only to finish second best was at Wimbledon.

The legendary Ken Rosewall made it to the decider on four occasions between 1954 and 1974, accumulating a 47-11 match record in the process.

However, between losing to Jaroslav Drobny in 1954 to being thrashed by Jimmy Connors 20 years later, Rosewall also came up short twice against his compatriots - losing to Lew Hoad in 1956 and to John Newcombe in 1970.