Borg backs Federer to bounce back

MACAU (AFP) - Former tennis great Bjorn Borg on Tuesday backed Roger Federer to return to top form after a damaging slump which has left his number one ranking under threat.

Federer was playing too well to relinquish the top spot, Borg said, although he stopped short of tipping the Swiss to win gold at next month's Olympics.

"Nadal is getting closer - he beat Federer at Paris and Wimbledon - but I think Roger will come back," Borg said by telephone from Sweden.

"I know Roger wants to win Grand Slam tournaments, he wants to stay number one in the world but Nadal is getting closer. It's going to be interesting to see what happens at the US Open."

Nadal thrashed Federer for the French Open title before outlasting the 26-year-old Swiss in this month's classic Wimbledon final - which Borg described as the greatest he had ever seen.