THE SIDELINES : Suit Against Borg Begins Trial

STOCKHOLM — Former tennis star Bjorn Borg went on trial today in an $82-million suit brought by a former business partner, the first of five court cases Borg has scheduled this year.

The others involve three libel actions and an ongoing custody battle with the mother of his 4-year-old son, Robin, the Swedish news agency TT said.

The multimillion-dollar suit was brought against Borg by Lars Skarke, his former partner and managing director of the Bjorn Borg Design Group, the fashion business that went bankrupt last summer. Skarke, who owned 25% of the group, claimed that Borg violated a shareholder agreement they signed. He also sued the five-time Wimbledon champion for his original investment, for damages and for loss of income.

“Borg denies all allegations. If anyone has caused damage, it is Skarke. He has caused the company great damage through managing it miserably,” Borg’s lawyer, Henning Sjostrom, said.