Wikipedia

Sue Barker

Susan Barker CBE (born 19 April 1956) is a British former television presenter and professional tennis player. During her playing career, Barker won 15 WTA Tour singles titles, including a major singles title at the 1976 French Open. She reached a career-high singles ranking of world No. 3.[2]

Sue Barker
CBE
Barker in 2008
Country (sports)United Kingdom Great Britain
ResidenceStanton, Gloucestershire, England
Born (1956-04-19) 19 April 1956 (age 68)
Paignton, Devon, England
Height5 ft 5 in (1.65 m)
Turned pro1972
Retired1984
PlaysRight-handed (one-handed backhand)
Prize moneyUS$ 878,701[1]
Singles
Career record407–250 (61.9%)
Career titles23 (15 WTA)
Highest rankingNo. 3 (20 March 1977)
Grand Slam singles results
Australian OpenSF (1975, 1977Dec)
French OpenW (1976)
WimbledonSF (1977)
US Open4R (1976)
Other tournaments
Tour FinalsF (1977)
Doubles
Career record33–38
Career titles12
Last updated on: 15 November 2022.

Barker started working for the BBC as a tennis presenter in 1993, and the following year began to present coverage of the Wimbledon tennis championships; she stepped down from this role after the 2022 Wimbledon Championships.[3] Barker is a former presenter of A Question of Sport.

Early life

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Barker was born on 19 April 1956 and raised in Paignton, Devon, and educated at a convent school. In 1966, aged 10, she was picked out as the second of two girls who were to receive tennis coaching from Arthur Roberts, who had coached Angela Mortimer to three Grand Slam titles.[4]

Roberts continued coaching her beyond the selection prize commitment, charging only £1/session to allow her development to continue. Barker's forehand was her strongest and most admired weapon throughout her career, with Roberts describing it as "especially potent".[5]

Advised as a teenager by a visiting LTA coach to change her forehand, Roberts told her not to and he later resigned from the LTA Coaches Association in protest at the advice. Roberts later entered Barker into tournaments on the continent, providing her with a one-way ticket there and telling her to "earn your ticket home". Roberts remained Barker's mentor throughout her career.[4]

Tennis career

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Aged 16, and ranked 21st in the WTA rankings, Barker was advised by Roberts to move to the United States for her development.[4] Signed by Mark McCormack's International Management Group (IMG) on her 17th birthday, she moved to an IMG-provided townhouse in Newport Beach, California, where her neighbours included the newly retired Rod Laver, and was coached at the John Wayne Tennis Club.[4]

In 1973 and 1974 she won the Exmouth Open at Exmouth, Devon, on both occasions against Annette Coe. In 1975, Barker won her first top-level singles title and three additional titles. Barker reached her first Grand Slam semi-final in 1975 at the Australian Open. She won the German Open in 1976, beating Renáta Tomanová of Czechoslovakia in the final 6–3, 6–1.

Later in 1976, Barker had the biggest victory of her career by winning the French Open at the age of 20, again defeating Tomanová in the final.[6] After her French Open victory against Tomanová, Barker felt that it would be the first of a number of Grand Slam titles that she would win, but she would not reach another Grand Slam final in her career.[6]

In 1977 Barker won two singles titles in San Francisco and Dallas. She beat Martina Navratilova to reach the Virginia Slims Tour Championships final, where she lost in three sets to Chris Evert. Barker reached the Australian Open semi-final for the second time in 1977 and reached the Wimbledon semi-final that year. She looked set to meet Virginia Wade in the Wimbledon final in 1977, but unexpectedly lost her semi-final against Betty Stöve of the Netherlands.[7]

Years later, Barker said that losing to Stöve was the biggest disappointment of her career and admitted that she was so upset at losing in the 1977 Wimbledon semi-final that she could not bear to watch the final, which was won by Wade.[8]

After an injury-plagued 1978 during which her ranking dropped to World No. 24, she won three singles titles and reached three other finals in 1979. She was named the tour's "Comeback Player of the Year" by her fellow professionals.[9] Barker reached one final in 1980 and won the last singles title of her career at the Brighton International in 1981, finishing the year ranked World No. 16. She won her last doubles title in 1982 at Cincinnati and played her last professional match in 1984.

Barker won 15 singles titles and 12 doubles titles, with wins over Chris Evert, Martina Navratilova, Billie Jean King, Evonne Goolagong, Tracy Austin, Virginia Wade, Maria Bueno, Rosemary Casals, Andrea Jaeger and Pam Shriver. In 2004, recalling her French Open win of 1976, Barker said "I'm still incredibly proud of what I achieved."[6]

Major finals

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Grand Slam finals

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Singles (1 title)

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Result Year Championship Surface Opponent Score
Win 1976 French Open Clay   Renáta Tomanová 6–2, 0–6, 6–2

Year-end championships finals

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Singles (1 runner–up)

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Result Year Championship Surface Opponent Score
Loss 1977 Virginia Slims Championships Carpet (i)   Chris Evert 6–2, 1–6, 1–6

Doubles (1 runner–up)

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Result Year Championship Surface Partner Opponents Score
Loss 1979 Avon Championships Carpet (i)   Ann Kiyomura   Françoise Dürr
  Betty Stöve		 6–7(1–7), 6–7(3–7)

WTA Tour finals

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Singles: 31 (15–16)

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Winner – Legend
Grand Slam tournaments (1–0)
WTA Tour Championships (0–1)
Virginia Slims, Avon, Other (14–15)
Titles by surface
Hard (0–1)
Grass (6–6)
Clay (5–1)
Carpet (4–8)
Result No. Date Tournament Surface Opponent Score
Win 1. 27 May 1974 Surbiton Grass   Sue Mappin 6–2, 7–5
Loss 1. 3 June 1974 Chichester Grass   Paulina Peisachov 2–6, 2–6
Win 2. 8 July 1974 Båstad Clay   Marijke Jansen 6–1, 7–5
Win 3. 7 July 1975 Båstad Clay   Helga Masthoff 6–4, 6–0
Win 4. 14 July 1975 Kitzbühel Clay   Pam Teeguarden 6–4, 6–4
Loss 2. 5 November 1975 Paris Carpet (i)   Virginia Wade 1–6, 7–6, 7–9
Win 5. 1 December 1975 Adelaide Grass   Helga Masthoff 6–5, ret.
Loss 3. 15 December 1975 Sydney Grass   Evonne Goolagong 2–6, 4–6
Win 6. 5 January 1975 Auckland Grass   Helga Masthoff 6–2, 6–1
Loss 4. 10 May 1976 Bournemouth Clay   Helga Masthoff 7–5, 3–6, 3–6
Win 7. 17 May 1976 Hamburg Clay   Renáta Tomanová 6–3, 6–1
Win 8. 31 May 1976 French Open Clay   Renáta Tomanová 6–2, 0–6, 6–2
Loss 5. 25 November 1976 Tokyo Carpet (i)   Chris Evert 2–6, 6–7
Loss 6. 6 December 1976 Melbourne Grass   Margaret Court 2–6, 2–6
Loss 7. 17 January 1977 Houston Carpet (i)   Martina Navratilova 6–7(3–7), 5–7
Loss 8. 24 January 1977 Minneapolis Carpet (i)   Martina Navratilova 0–6, 1–6
Loss 9. 21 February 1977 Detroit Carpet (i)   Martina Navratilova 4–6, 4–6
Win 9. 28 February 1977 San Francisco Carpet (i)   Virginia Wade 6–3, 6–4
Win 10. 7 March 1977 Dallas Carpet (i)   Terry Holladay 6–1, 7–6(7–4)
Loss 10. 24 March 1977 Virginia Slims Championships Carpet (i)   Chris Evert 6–2, 1–6, 1–6
Loss 11. 12 December 1977 Sydney Grass   Evonne Goolagong 2–6, 3–6
Win 11. 21 November 1978 Brisbane Grass   Chris O'Neil 6–1, 6–3
Loss 12. 12 March 1979 Boston Carpet (i)   Dianne Fromholtz 2–6, 6–7(4–7)
Loss 13. 26 March 1979 Carlsbad Hard   Kerry Reid 6–7, 6–3, 2–6
Win 12. 3 June 1979 Manchester Grass   Anne Hobbs 7–5, 4–6, 6–0
Loss 14. 10 June 1979 Chichester Grass   Evonne Goolagong Cawley 1–6, 4–6
Win 13. 10 September 1979 Pittsburgh Carpet (i)   Renée Richards 6–3, 6–1
Win 14. 3 December 1979 Sydney Grass   Rosalyn Fairbank 6–0, 7–5
Loss 15. 8 December 1980 Adelaide Grass   Hana Mandlíková 1–6, 4–6
Loss 16. 10 August 1981 Richmond Carpet (i)   Mary-Lou Piatek 4–6, 1–6
Win 15. 19 October 1981 Brighton Carpet (i)   Mima Jaušovec 4–6, 6–1, 6–1

Doubles: 30 (12–18)

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Winner – Legend
Grand Slam tournaments (0–0)
WTA Tour Championships (0–1)
Virginia Slims, Avon, Other (12–17)
Titles by surface
Hard (0–0)
Grass (2–4)
Clay (2–4)
Carpet (8–10)
Result No. Date Tournament Surface Partner Opponents Score
Loss 1. 26 May 1975 Rome Clay   Glynis Coles   Chris Evert
  Martina Navratilova 		1–6, 2–6
Win 1. 14 July 1975 Kitzbühel Clay   Pam Teeguarden   Fiorella Bonicelli
  Raquel Giscafré 		6–1, 6–3
Win 2. 1 December 1975 Adelaide Grass   Michelle Tyler   Kym Ruddell
  Janet Young 		7–5, 6–3
Loss 2. 8 December 1975 Perth Grass   Michelle Tyler   Christine Matison
  Lesley Bowrey 		6–7, 3–6
Loss 3. 16 August 1976 Toronto Clay   Pam Teeguarden   Cynthia Doerner
  Janet Newberry 		7–6, 3–6, 1–6
Win 3. 12 October 1976 Hilton Head Island Clay   Evonne Goolagong   Martina Navratilova
  Virginia Wade 		4–6, 6–4, 3–6
Win 4. 25 November 1976 Tokyo Carpet (i)   Ann Kiyomura   Rosie Casals
  Françoise Dürr 		4–6, 6–3, 6–1
Loss 4. 17 January 1977 Houston Carpet (i)   Ann Kiyomura   Martina Navratilova
  Betty Stöve 		6–4, 2–6, 1–6
Loss 5. 28 February 1977 San Francisco Carpet (i)   Ann Kiyomura   Kerry Reid
  Greer Stevens 		3–6, 1–6
Loss 6. 5 February 1979 Seattle Carpet (i)   Ann Kiyomura   Françoise Dürr
  Betty Stöve 		6–7(4–7), 6–4, 4–6
Loss 7. 19 February 1979 Detroit Carpet (i)   Ann Kiyomura   Betty Stöve
  Wendy Turnbull 		4–6, 6–7(5–7)
Loss 8. 12 March 1979 Boston Carpet (i)   Ann Kiyomura   Kerry Reid
  Wendy Turnbull 		4–6, 2–6
Loss 9. 19 March 1979 Avon Championships Carpet (i)   Ann Kiyomura   Françoise Dürr
  Betty Stöve 		6–7, 6–7
Loss 10. 2 April 1979 Tokyo Carpet (i)   Ann Kiyomura   Françoise Dürr
  Betty Stöve 		5–7, 6–7
Win 5. 10 September 1979 Pittsburgh Carpet (i)   Candy Reynolds   Bunny Bruning
  Jane Stratton 		6–3, 6–2
Loss 11. 3 December 1979 Sydney Grass   Pam Shriver   Billie Jean King
  Wendy Turnbull 		5–7, 4–6
Loss 12. 10 December 1979 Adelaide Grass   Pam Shriver   Hana Mandlíková
  Virginia Ruzici 		1–6, 6–3, 2–6
Win 6. 11 February 1980 Oakland Carpet (i)   Ann Kiyomura   Greer Stevens
  Virginia Wade 		6–0, 6–4
Loss 13. 31 March 1980 Tokyo Carpet (i)   Ann Kiyomura   Billie Jean King
  Martina Navratilova 		5–7, 3–6
Loss 14. 8 December 1980 Adelaide Grass   Sharon Walsh   Pam Shriver
  Betty Stöve 		4–6, 3–6
Win 7. 16 February 1981 Houston Carpet (i)   Ann Kiyomura   Regina Maršíková
  Mary-Lou Piatek 		5–7, 6–3, 6–4
Loss 15. 23 February 1981 Seattle Carpet (i)   Ann Kiyomura   Rosie Casals
  Wendy Turnbull 		4–6, 1–6
Win 8. 2 March 1981 Los Angeles Carpet (i)   Ann Kiyomura   Peanut Louie
  Marita Redondo 		6–1, 4–6, 6–1
Win 9. 4 May 1981 Tokyo Carpet (i)   Ann Kiyomura   Barbara Potter
  Sharon Walsh 		7–5, 6–2
Loss 16. 18 May 1981 Berlin Clay   Renáta Tomanová   Rosalyn Fairbank
  Tanya Harford 		3–6, 4–6
Win 10. 8 June 1981 Surbiton Grass   Ann Kiyomura   Billie Jean King
  Ilana Kloss 		6–1, 6–7, 6–1
Loss 17. 3 August 1981 Indianapolis Clay   Paula Smith   JoAnne Russell
  Virginia Ruzici 		2–6, 2–6
Win 11. 10 August 1981 Richmond Carpet (i)   Ann Kiyomura   Kathy Jordan
  Anne Smith 		4–6, 7–6, 6–4
Win 12. 11 January 1982 Cincinnati Carpet (i)   Ann Kiyomura   Pam Shriver
  Anne Smith 		6–2, 7–6
Loss 18. 15 February 1982 Houston Carpet (i)   Sharon Walsh   Kathy Jordan
  Pam Shriver 		6–7(6–8), 2–6

Performance timelines

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Key
W  F  SF QF #R RR Q# DNQ A NH
(W) winner; (F) finalist; (SF) semifinalist; (QF) quarterfinalist; (#R) rounds 4, 3, 2, 1; (RR) round-robin stage; (Q#) qualification round; (DNQ) did not qualify; (A) absent; (NH) not held; (SR) strike rate (events won / competed); (W–L) win–loss record.
  • " * " – Barker received a bye in the first round.
  • " ^ " – Barker withdrew prior to the match, which is not counted as a loss.

Singles

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Tournament 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 W–L SR
Grand Slam tournaments
Australian Open A 3R SF 2R (Jan)
A 		(Dec)
SF 		QF A 3R 3R 1R A Q1 16–8 0 / 8
French Open A A 3R W A A 2R A 1R A A 1R 9–4 1 / 5
Wimbledon 2R 1R 3R* QF SF* 4R 1R 2R* 3R 1R 1R 2R 16–12 0 / 12
US Open A A 2R 4R* 3R A 2R* A 2R A A 1R 6–6 0 / 6
Year-end championship
WTA Championships Did not qualify F F DNQ SF Did not qualify 9–5 0 / 4
Win–loss 1–1 2–2 8–4 16–5 12–4 5–2 4–5 2–2 5–4 0–2 0–1 1–3 56–35 1 / 35
Year-end ranking N/A 19[10] 10[11] 5[12] 24[13] 10[14] 16[15] 14[16] 62[17] 57[18] 155[19]

Doubles

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Tournament 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 W–L SR
Australian Open QF QF* QF* (Jan)
A 		(Dec)
1R 		1R A SF SF 1R A 1R 10–9 0 / 9
French Open A QF* 2R* A A A A A A A 2R 2–3 0 / 3
Wimbledon 2R* QF* 1R 3R* SF* QF QF SF 2R* 1R A 16–10 0 / 10
US Open A QF^ QF A A 1R A A A A 1R 5–3 0 / 4
Year-end championship
WTA Championships Did not qualify F
(W:1; L:1) 		DNQ SF
(W:0; L:1) 		Did not qualify 1–2 0 / 2
Win–loss 2–2 6–3 4–4 1–2 3–2 4–3 6–2 7–3 0–2 0–1 1–3 33–25 0 / 26
Year-end ranking N/A 116[20]

Mixed doubles

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Tournament 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 W–L SR
Australian Open Absent 0–0 0 / 0
French Open Absent SF*^ Absent 2–0 0 / 1
Wimbledon Absent 1R Absent 3R 2R 3–3 0 / 3
US Open Absent 0–0 0 / 0
Win–loss 2–0 0–0 0–0 0–0 0–1 0–0 0–0 0–0 0–0 2–1 1–1 5–3 0 / 4

Fed Cup

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1974 Federation Cup
Date Venue Surface Round Opponents Final match score Match Opponent Rubber score
13–19 May
1974 		Naples Clay SF   Australia 0–3 Doubles (with Virginia Wade) Goolagong/Young 0–6, 2–6 (L)
1975 Federation Cup
5–11 May
1975 		Aix-en-Provence Clay 1R   Austria 3–0 Singles Sabine Bernegger 6–3, 6–2 (W)
Doubles (with Glynis Coles) Bernegger/Buche 6–3, 6–1 (W)
QF   France 1–2 Singles Nathalie Fuchs 1–6, 6–1, 4–6 (L)
1976 Federation Cup
22–29 Aug
1976 		Philadelphia, PA Carpet (I) 1R   France 3–0 Singles Nathalie Fuchs 6–3, 6–0 (W)
Doubles (with Virginia Wade) Benedetti/Darmon 6–3, 6–2 (W)
QF   South Africa 2–1 Singles Linky Boshoff 6–1, 6–1 (W)
Doubles (with Michelle Tyler) Boshoff/Kloss 1–6, 4–6 (L)
SF   Australia 0–3 Singles Dianne Fromholtz 2–6, 6–7 (L)
Doubles (with Virginia Wade) Cawley/Reid 1–6, 3–6 (L)
1977 Federation Cup
13–18 Jun
1977 		Eastbourne Grass 1R   Denmark 3–0 Singles Dorte Ekner 6–3, 6–1 (W)
Doubles (with Virginia Wade) Ekner/Sparre 6–2, 6–2 (W)
2R   South Korea 3–0 Singles Choi Kyeong-Mi 6–1, 6–3 (W)
Doubles (with Virginia Wade) Choi/Lee 6–1, 6–0 (W)
QF   Sweden 3–0 Singles Mimmi Wikstedt 6–2, 6–0 (W)
Doubles (with Virginia Wade) Anliot/Wikstedt 6–2, 5–7, 6–3 (W)
SF   Australia 1–2 Singles Dianne Fromholtz 3–6, 4–6 (L)
Doubles (with Virginia Wade) Reid/Turnbull 6–1, 6–4 (W)
1978 Federation Cup
27 Nov –
3 Dec
1978 		Melbourne Grass 1R   Spain 3–0 Singles Mónica Álvarez de Mon 6–0, 10–8 (W)
2R   West Germany 2–1 Singles Sylvia Hanika 3–6, 2–6 (L)
Doubles (with Virginia Wade) Ebbinghaus/Hanika 6–3, 6–0 (W)
QF   Czechoslovakia 2–1 Doubles (with Virginia Wade) Mandlíková/Tomanová 8–6, 7–5 (W)
SF   United States 0–3 Doubles (with Anne Hobbs) Casals/King 6–1, 3–6, 4–6 (L)
1979 Federation Cup
30 Apr –
6 May
1979 		Madrid Clay 1R   New Zealand 3–0 Singles Chris Newton 6–0, 6–0 (W)
Doubles (with Virginia Wade) Newton/Perry 6–1, 6–1 (W)
2R   Belgium 3–0 Singles Monique Van Haver 6–3, 11–9 (W)
Doubles (with Virginia Wade) Gurdal/Van Haver 6–3, 6–0 (W)
QF   Czechoslovakia 0–3 Singles Hana Mandlíková 6–3, 6–8, 4–6 (L)
1980 Federation Cup
19–25 May
1980 		Berlin Clay 1R   Israel 3–0 Singles Paulina Peled 4–6, 7–6, 6–1 (W)
Doubles (with Glynis Coles) Bialistozky/Peled 6–2, 6–3 (W)
2R   Argentina 2–1 Singles Adriana Villagrán-Reami 5–7, 7–6, 6–2 (W)
Doubles (with Virginia Wade) Madruga Osses/Villagrán-Reami 5–7, 6–2, 6–4 (W)
QF   West Germany 0–3 Singles Bettina Bunge 2–6, 0–6 (L)
Doubles (with Virginia Wade) Bunge/Hanika 3–6, 3–6 (L)
1981 Federation Cup
9–15 Nov
1981 		Tokyo Clay 1R   Belgium 3–0 Doubles (with Jo Durie) de Witte/de Wouters 6–3, 6–3 (W)
2R   France 3–0 Singles Corinne Vanier 4–6, 6–2, 10–8 (W)
Doubles (with Virginia Wade) Amiach/Tanvier 5–7, 6–1, 6–2 (W)
QF   Soviet Union 2–1 Singles Elena Eliseenko 4–6, 6–4, 6–4 (W)
Doubles (with Virginia Wade) Cherneva/Zaitseva 6–3, 6–1 (W)
SF   Australia 2–1 Singles Wendy Turnbull 7–6, 3–6, 6–2 (W)
Doubles (with Virginia Wade) Leo/Turnbull 7–6, 6–3 (W)
F   United States 0–3 Singles Chris Evert 2–6, 1–6 (L)
1982 Federation Cup
19–25 Jul
1982 		Santa Clara Hard 1R BYE
2R   Israel 3–0 Singles Orly Bialistozky 6–1, 6–3 (W)
QF   Soviet Union 1–2 Singles Hana Mandlíková 7–6, 6–7, 3–6 (L)

Broadcasting career

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Sue Barker interviewing Andy Murray at Wimbledon in 2016

After retiring as a tennis player, Barker became a commentator and sports reporter for Australia's Channel 7 in 1985 before anchoring tennis coverage for British Sky Broadcasting from 1990 to 1993. In 1993, Barker joined the BBC and hosted its Wimbledon coverage as a regular guest on Today at Wimbledon with Harry Carpenter. She took over as host of Today at Wimbledon in 1994, and from 2000 until 2022, she anchored the two-week-long broadcast for the network.[21]

Barker has branched out since joining the BBC, becoming one of their chief sports presenters. She was one of the presenters of Grandstand and the presenter of the long-running sports quiz show A Question of Sport[5] (QoS) since 1997, having succeeded David Coleman. She retired as QoS presenter following the BBC's decision to revamp the show, having recorded her last episode in September 2020.[22] She was a host of the annual BBC Sports Personality of the Year awards ceremony from 1994 to 2012 before stepping down in 2013.[23]

Barker has hosted BBC Sport's coverage of the Australian Open, the French Open, Queens Club Championships, Eastbourne, the Davis Cup, the ATP World Tour Finals and Wimbledon.

Other sporting events she has hosted have included the Grand National (2000–2007), the Derby (2001–2007), Racing at Ascot and Longchamp (1995–1999), Hennessy Gold Cup at Newbury, the Great North Run, World Athletics Championships and European Athletics Championships (1999–2009), BBC Sports Personality of the Year (1994–2012), Commonwealth Games (1994–2010), Summer Olympics (1996–2012) and Winter Olympics (1994–2010).

Barker provided commentary for the 1998 video game Actua Tennis, along with fellow BBC broadcaster Barry Davies.[24]

In June 1999, she co-presented coverage of Prince Edward's wedding to Sophie Rhys-Jones at Windsor alongside Michael Buerk. Barker had introduced Rhys-Jones to Queen Elizabeth II's youngest son at a charity function a few years earlier.

In 2008, Barker and the BBC extended her contract to cover the London 2012 Summer Olympics. It was estimated to be worth £375,000 a year.[25]

In July 2012, the Advertising Standards Authority in the UK received over 40 complaints for a Go Compare advert featuring Barker who was shown firing a large rocket launcher at opera singer Gio Compario (Wynne Evans) in an attempt to kill off the face of the brand. A spokesperson for the ASA said: "Some people think it offensive especially at a time when children are watching. Others think it inappropriate when our security forces are coming under fire on a daily basis. As with all complaints, we are looking into the matter before deciding if we launch a full investigation."[26]

Barker was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the 2000 New Year Honours for services to sport and broadcasting,[27] Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the 2016 New Year Honours for services to broadcasting and charity[28] and Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in the 2021 Birthday Honours for services to broadcasting and charity.[29]

In September 2020, it was announced that Barker would step down from her role as host of BBC game show A Question of Sport after 24 years; she stated that she was "sad to say goodbye".[30] On 9 June 2022, Barker announced she would be stepping down from BBC coverage of the Wimbledon tennis championship after the 2022 finals, which she had covered since 1993.[31]

Barker has since stated that she was dismissed from the show rather than leaving by choice. She alleges that she was asked to put her name to an untrue pre-prepared statement claiming she left of her own accord when this was not the case. Barker accepted the BBC's decision to replace her, which she claimed was because they wished to "refresh" the show. However, she criticised the BBC's handling of the matter, describing this as "insulting" and saying that she felt "slightly damaged" by the experience. [32]

Personal life

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At 17 years of age, Barker moved to California.[33] In 1978, she broke off an engagement with Australian tennis player Syd Ball. In an interview the following year, she said: "I realised that Syd wasn't the answer. Underneath, I wasn't happy and I certainly wasn't ready for marriage. I wasn't fair to him or myself."[34] After her engagement was broken off, she had a brief relationship with golfer Greg Norman.[34]

In 1980, Barker was temporarily blinded in her right eye after a large dog in Spain jumped up and bit her. She lost the sight in her eye for five hours and feared that the dog attack would force her to stop playing tennis, which she said "broke her heart".[35]

In 1982, Barker met singer Cliff Richard. Their four-month-long[33] romance attracted considerable media attention after Richard flew to Denmark to watch her play in a tennis match and they were photographed cuddling and holding hands at Wimbledon.[36][37] In 1988, Richard said of his former romance with Barker: "We were closer than just friends. She's the only person with whom I've had that sort of relationship." He said that one of the things which made up his mind not to marry her was when she got upset because he hadn't told her who he was seeing that day. Richard said: "I suddenly realised that in a marriage you don't live for yourself."[38] Richard said in 2008 that he had come close to asking her to marry him. He said: "I seriously contemplated asking her to marry me, but in the end I realised that I didn't love her quite enough to commit the rest of my life to her."[39]

In 1986 some time after Barker's romance with Richard had ended and she began a brief relationship with tennis player Stephen Shaw, Richard said that he was still a friend of Barker. He said: "We have a mutual respect for each other and that means a lot to me."[40]

In 1988, Barker married landscape gardener and former policeman Lance Tankard.[25][38] They live in the Cotswolds village of Stanton, Gloucestershire, after moving from a mansion on a 26-acre estate in Godalming, Surrey.[41]

In an interview in 1999, Barker said that during her tennis career she was approached by a lesbian tennis player in the locker room and touched "in a way that didn't feel right". Barker refused to name the female tennis player involved.[4]

In September 2022, Barker featured on Desert Island Discs;[42] Her favourite chosen track was "Harry Hippie" by Bobby Womack, with her choice of book and luxury item given as All In by Billie Jean King and some New Zealand sauvignon blanc wine respectively.

Barker's autobiography Calling the Shots was published in September 2022.[43]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Career Prize Money". WTA. 25 September 2015.
  2. ^ "Sue Barker – Speakers Biography". Speakers.co.uk. Retrieved 16 December 2010.
  3. ^ "Sue Barker to step down as Wimbledon presenter after 2022 tournament". BBC Sport. 9 June 2022. Retrieved 9 June 2022.
  4. ^ a b c d e Viner, Brian (24 March 1999). "Barker's happy return to the fore". The Independent. London. Archived from the original on 25 May 2022. Retrieved 29 December 2012.
  5. ^ a b "Meet the Question of Sport regulars". BBC Sport. 12 September 2003. Retrieved 18 May 2007.
  6. ^ a b c "Barker recalls her golden moment". BBC Sport. 21 May 2004. Retrieved 18 May 2007.
  7. ^ "Devon – Discover Devon". BBC. 30 January 2008. Archived from the original on 15 July 2013. Retrieved 29 December 2012.
  8. ^ Henderson, Jon (8 July 2007). "Tennis: Say it's not so Sue". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 29 December 2012.
  9. ^ "Sue Barker (GBR)". Sony Ericsson WTA Tour. Archived from the original on 30 September 2007. Retrieved 18 May 2007.
  10. ^ "1975 year-end singles rankings" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 9 November 2011. Retrieved 31 December 2021.
  11. ^ "1976 year-end singles rankings" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 9 November 2011. Retrieved 31 December 2021.
  12. ^ "1977 year-end singles rankings" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 9 November 2011. Retrieved 31 December 2021.
  13. ^ "1978 year-end singles rankings" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 9 November 2011. Retrieved 31 December 2021.
  14. ^ "1979 year-end singles rankings" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 9 November 2011. Retrieved 31 December 2021.
  15. ^ "1980 year-end singles rankings" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 9 November 2011. Retrieved 31 December 2021.
  16. ^ "1981 year-end singles rankings" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 9 November 2011. Retrieved 31 December 2021.
  17. ^ "1982 year-end singles rankings" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 9 November 2011. Retrieved 31 December 2021.
  18. ^ "1983 year-end singles rankings" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 9 November 2011. Retrieved 31 December 2021.
  19. ^ "1984 year-end singles rankings" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 9 November 2011. Retrieved 31 December 2021.
  20. ^ "1984 year-end doubles rankings" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 9 November 2011. Retrieved 31 December 2021.
  21. ^ "Sue Barker". BBC Sport. 30 June 2000. Retrieved 18 May 2007.
  22. ^ "Barker, Dawson and Tufnell to leave A Question Of Sport in show shake-up". Sky News. Retrieved 31 December 2021.
  23. ^ "Sue Barker steps down from hosting BBC Sports Personality of the Year". Digital Spy. 19 September 2013. Retrieved 10 December 2013.
  24. ^ I. G. N. Staff (22 June 1997). "E3: Grab Your Rackets!". IGN. Retrieved 27 August 2022.
  25. ^ a b Clout, Laura (9 July 2008). "Sue Barker wins BBC contract to cover 2012 London Olympics". The Daily Telegraph. London. Retrieved 29 December 2012.
  26. ^ "Sue Barker Go Compare rocket launcher advert gets complaints". Digital Spy. 5 July 2012. Retrieved 4 January 2012.
  27. ^ "People's champions knighted". BBC News. 31 December 1999. Retrieved 1 July 2019.
  28. ^ "No. 61450". The London Gazette (Supplement). 30 December 2015. p. N11.
  29. ^ "No. 63377". The London Gazette (Supplement). 12 June 2021. p. B8.
  30. ^ "Sue Barker leaving BBC's A Question of Sport after 24 years". BBC News. 13 September 2020. Retrieved 8 July 2021.
  31. ^ "Sue Barker to step down as Wimbledon presenter after 2022 tournament". BBC News. 9 June 2022.
  32. ^ "Sue Barker: BBC could have handled my Question of Sport exit better". BBC News. 30 September 2022. Retrieved 19 February 2023.
  33. ^ a b "BBC Radio 4 - Desert Island Discs, Sue Barker, presenter and tennis player". BBC. Retrieved 24 September 2022.
  34. ^ a b "A model beauty – That's Sweet Sue". Evening Times. 1 September 1979. p. 3.
  35. ^ "Sue Barker puts tennis in its place". The Miami News. 6 October 1982.
  36. ^ Turner, Steve (2008). Cliff Richard: The Biography. Oxford: Lion. p. 288. ISBN 9780745952796.
  37. ^ Turner, Steve (2008). Cliff Richard: The Biography. Oxford: Lion. p. 289. ISBN 9780745952796.
  38. ^ a b "My lost love, by bachelor boy Cliff". Evening Times. 9 November 1988.
  39. ^ Farmer, Ben (4 September 2008). "Sir Cliff Richard talks of ex-priest companion". The Daily Telegraph. London. Retrieved 13 September 2012.
  40. ^ Pearce, Sally (12 January 1986). "Cliff Richard, the pop world's greatest survivor, says..." New Straits Times. Retrieved 7 July 2013.
  41. ^ "Who's moving homes; Sue Barker". London Evening Standard. 27 February 2008. Retrieved 25 May 2017.
  42. ^ "BBC Radio 4 - Desert Island Discs - Eight things we learned from Sue Barker's Desert Island Discs". BBC. Retrieved 24 September 2022.
  43. ^ "Sue Barker's autobiography netted by Ebury Spotlight". The Bookseller. 16 June 2022. Retrieved 23 November 2022.
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Media offices
Preceded by Regular host of Question of Sport
1997–2021 		Succeeded by
Awards and achievements
Preceded by RTS Television Sport Awards
Best Sports Presenter
2001 		Succeeded by
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