She became LTA Colour Holder - designed to acknowledge and celebrate players who have represented Great Britain at tennis - after representing the UK in what is now the Billie Jean King Cup in 27 ties.īarker reached one final match in 1980 and won the last singles title of her career at the Brighton International in 1981, finishing the year ranked as world No. It's my job to bring out the best in them and to help make our viewers feel they have a front row seat on the greatest sporting stage." Sue Barker's tennis recordīarker made her playing debut aged 16, and went on to win 11 WTA Tour singles titles and one Grand Slam after triumphing at the 1976 French Open. Upon that confirmation in March, she said: "It's a huge honour to be given this responsibility but I am very aware that no one person can fill Sue's shoes. Sue Barker at Wimbledon in 2022 (Image: Ryan Pierse/Getty Images) Who is Sue Barker's BBC Wimbledon replacement?Įxperienced broadcaster Clare Balding becomes the BBC's lead Wimbledon presenter. That would have been 25 years and seemed a good time, but I am so glad I made the decision to stay on." I had actually made up my mind to leave in 2017 because the hours were becoming very long and quite challenging. When something like that happens it does make you reassess life, which is another reason I think this is the right time.”īarker went on to tell the Daily Mail that she had actually considered quitting five years prior, saying: "When I started I never thought I would manage 30 years. “My mum was always so interested in my broadcasting career. I’ve worked with the best of the best,” Barker said in an official BBC statement. I will miss it terribly but after 30 years I feel the time is right for me. “What a wonderful time I’ve had working on some of the biggest sporting events around the world. While Barker had the option of staying on for another three years, she has spoken of her desire to bow out on top of her game, while the death of her mother Betty aged 100 in 2022 also played a part in her decision. I've just been so proud to front the programme. I wish I had the next 30 years because I love it but most of all I'm going to miss the people I work with in front of the camera, behind the camera. It's been an absolute privilege - I've loved it, 30 amazing years, thank you. Signing off from Wimbledon, Barker told viewers: "Ah, this is going to be embarrassing. Of course, some of Barker's most emotional interviews were with Murray: in 2012, when he lost to Roger Federer, and the following year when he finally became the first Brit male to win Wimbledon for 77 years.
“She was obviously an amazing tennis player but a lot of people maybe don’t realise that about her because she has become so good at what she does now.”
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“I’ve watched her on the TV growing up, whether that was Wimbledon or a Question of Sport,” the Scotsman said at the time. Upon bidding farewell to the tournament she has brought to millions of viewers over the years, Barker was moved to tears a year ago by on-air tributes paid to her by a multitude of iconic figures in the world of tennis including British tennis great Andy Murray, who suggested Barker's greatest achievement may be cultivating such a top-quality broadcasting career that younger audiences didn't even realise she was once French Open champion, back in 1976. 3 first presented the broadcaster’s coverage in 1993 but retired last summer after turning down a three-year contract extension which would have taken her to 2025.īarker, the former face of Wimbledon who competed in the tournament's semi-finals back in 1977, was paid a six-figure salary of between £185,000 and £189,999, according to last year's BBC high earners list. National treasure Barker, 67, actually fronted the BBC's Wimbledon coverage for a remarkable 30 years, and bid an emotional farewell to her role in July 2022.
The BBC's coverage of Wimbledon is looking a little different this year, with Sue Barker absent for the first time since her retirement.
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