Sue Barker

Template:Short description Template:Use dmy dates Template:EngvarB Template:Infobox tennis biography Susan Barker Template:Post-nominals (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.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

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.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> In addition, Barker fronted coverage of other major sporting occasions and sports for the BBC, including Olympic and Commonwealth Games, athletics and horse racing. Barker is also a former presenter of A Question of Sport, Grandstand and BBC Sports Personality of the Year.

Early lifeEdit

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.<ref name=Indp1082723 />

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".<ref name="QoS">Template:Cite news</ref>

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.<ref name=Indp1082723>Template:Cite news</ref>

Tennis careerEdit

Aged 16, and ranked 21st in the WTA rankings, Barker was advised by Roberts to move to the United States for her development.<ref name=Indp1082723 /> 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.<ref name=Indp1082723 />

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.<ref name="French">Template:Cite news</ref> 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.<ref name="French" />

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.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

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.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

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.<ref name="WTA1">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> 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."<ref name="French" />

Major finalsEdit

Grand Slam finalsEdit

Singles (1 title)Edit

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

Year-end championships finalsEdit

Singles (1 runner–up)Edit

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

Doubles (1 runner–up)Edit

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

WTA Tour finalsEdit

Singles: 31 (15–16)Edit

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	W-L	Date	Tournament	Surface	Opponent	Score
Win	1–0	May 1974	Surbiton, UK	Grass	Template:Flagicon Sue Mappin	6–2, 7–5
Loss	1–1	Jun 1974	Chichester, UK	Grass	Template:Flagicon Paulina Peisachov	2–6, 2–6
Win	2–1	Jul 1974	Båstad, Sweden	Clay	Template:Flagicon Marijke Jansen	6–1, 7–5
Win	3–1	Jul 1975	Båstad, Sweden	Clay	Template:Flagicon Helga Masthoff	6–4, 6–0
Win	4–1	Jul 1975	Kitzbühel, Austria	Clay	Template:Flagicon Pam Teeguarden	6–4, 6–4
Loss	4–2	Nov 1975	Paris, France	Carpet (i)	Template:Flagicon Virginia Wade	1–6, 7–6, 7–9
Win	5–2	Dec 1975	Adelaide, Australia	Grass	Template:Flagicon Helga Masthoff	6–5, ret.
Loss	5–3	Dec 1975	Sydney, Australia	Grass	Template:Flagicon Evonne Goolagong	2–6, 4–6
Win	6–3	Jan 1975	Auckland, New Zealand	Grass	Template:Flagicon Helga Masthoff	6–2, 6–1
Loss	6–4	May 1976	Bournemouth, UK	Clay	Template:Flagicon Helga Masthoff	7–5, 3–6, 3–6
Win	7–4	May 1976	Hamburg, West Germany	Clay	Template:Flagicon Renáta Tomanová	6–3, 6–1
Win	8–4	May 1976	French Open	Clay	Template:Flagicon Renáta Tomanová	6–2, 0–6, 6–2
Loss	8–5	Nov 1976	Tokyo, Japan	Carpet (i)	Template:Flagicon Chris Evert	2–6, 6–7
Loss	8–6	Dec 1976	Melbourne, Australia	Grass	Template:Flagicon Margaret Court	2–6, 2–6
Loss	8–7	Jan 1977	Houston, US	Carpet (i)	Template:Flagicon Martina Navratilova	6–7^(3–7), 5–7
Loss	8–8	Jan 1977	Minneapolis, US	Carpet (i)	Template:Flagicon Martina Navratilova	0–6, 1–6
Loss	8–9	Feb 1977	Detroit, US	Carpet (i)	Template:Flagicon Martina Navratilova	4–6, 4–6
Win	9–9	Feb 1977	San Francisco, US	Carpet (i)	Template:Flagicon Virginia Wade	6–3, 6–4
Win	10–9	Mar 1977	Dallas, US	Carpet (i)	Template:Flagicon Terry Holladay	6–1, 7–6^(7–4)
Loss	10–10	Mar 1977	VS Championships, US	Carpet (i)	Template:Flagicon Chris Evert	6–2, 1–6, 1–6
Loss	10–11	Dec 1977	Sydney, Australia	Grass	Template:Flagicon Evonne Goolagong	2–6, 3–6
Win	11–11	Nov 1978	Brisbane, Australia	Grass	Template:Flagicon Chris O'Neil	6–1, 6–3
Loss	11–12	Mar 1979	Boston, US	Carpet (i)	Template:Flagicon Dianne Fromholtz	2–6, 6–7^(4–7)
Loss	11–13	Mar 1979	Carlsbad , US	Hard	Template:Flagicon Kerry Reid	6–7, 6–3, 2–6
Win	12–13	Jun 1979	Manchester, UK	Grass	Template:Flagicon Anne Hobbs	7–5, 4–6, 6–0
Loss	12–14	Jun 1979	Chichester, UK	Grass	Template:Flagicon Evonne Goolagong Cawley	1–6, 4–6
Win	13–14	Sep 1979	Pittsburgh, US	Carpet (i)	Template:Flagicon Renée Richards	6–3, 6–1
Win	14–14	Dec 1979	Sydney, Australia	Grass	Template:Flagicon Rosalyn Fairbank	6–0, 7–5
Loss	14–15	Dec 1980	Adelaide, Australia	Grass	Template:Flagicon Hana Mandlíková	1–6, 4–6
Loss	14–16	Aug 1981	Richmond, US	Carpet (i)	Template:Flagicon Mary-Lou Piatek	4–6, 1–6
Win	15–16	Oct 1981	Brighton, UK	Carpet (i)	Template:Flagicon Mima Jaušovec	4–6, 6–1, 6–1

Doubles: 30 (12–18)Edit

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	W-L	Date	Tournament	Surface	Partner	Opponents	Score
Loss	0–1	May 1975	Rome	Clay	Template:Flagicon Glynis Coles	Template:Flagicon Chris Evert Template:Flagicon Martina Navratilova	1–6, 2–6
Win	1–1	Jul 1975	Kitzbühel	Clay	Template:Flagicon Pam Teeguarden	Template:Flagicon Fiorella Bonicelli Template:Flagicon Raquel Giscafré	6–1, 6–3
Win	2–1	Dec 1975	Adelaide	Grass	Template:Flagicon Michelle Tyler	Template:Flagicon Kym Ruddell Template:Flagicon Janet Young	7–5, 6–3
Loss	2–2	Dec 1975	Perth	Grass	Template:Flagicon Michelle Tyler	Template:Flagicon Christine Matison Template:Flagicon Lesley Bowrey	6–7, 3–6
Loss	2–3	Aug 1976	Toronto	Clay	Template:Flagicon Pam Teeguarden	Template:Flagicon Cynthia Doerner Template:Flagicon Janet Newberry	7–6, 3–6, 1–6
Win	3–3	Oct 1976	Hilton Head Island	Clay	Template:Flagicon Evonne Goolagong	Template:Flagicon Martina Navratilova Template:Flagicon Virginia Wade	4–6, 6–4, 3–6
Win	4–3	Nov 1976	Tokyo	Carpet (i)	Template:Flagicon Ann Kiyomura	Template:Flagicon Rosie Casals Template:Flagicon Françoise Dürr	4–6, 6–3, 6–1
Loss	4–4	Jan 1977	Houston	Carpet (i)	Template:Flagicon Ann Kiyomura	Template:Flagicon Martina Navratilova Template:Flagicon Betty Stöve	6–4, 2–6, 1–6
Loss	4–5	Feb 1977	San Francisco	Carpet (i)	Template:Flagicon Ann Kiyomura	Template:Flagicon Kerry Reid Template:Flagicon Greer Stevens	3–6, 1–6
Loss	4–6	Feb 1979	Seattle	Carpet (i)	Template:Flagicon Ann Kiyomura	Template:Flagicon Françoise Dürr Template:Flagicon Betty Stöve	6–7^(4–7), 6–4, 4–6
Loss	4–7	Feb 1979	Detroit	Carpet (i)	Template:Flagicon Ann Kiyomura	Template:Flagicon Betty Stöve Template:Flagicon Wendy Turnbull	4–6, 6–7^(5–7)
Loss	4–8	Mar 1979	Boston	Carpet (i)	Template:Flagicon Ann Kiyomura	Template:Flagicon Kerry Reid Template:Flagicon Wendy Turnbull	4–6, 2–6
Loss	4–9	Mar 1979	Avon Championships	Carpet (i)	Template:Flagicon Ann Kiyomura	Template:Flagicon Françoise Dürr Template:Flagicon Betty Stöve	6–7, 6–7
Loss	4–10	Apr 1979	Tokyo	Carpet (i)	Template:Flagicon Ann Kiyomura	Template:Flagicon Françoise Dürr Template:Flagicon Betty Stöve	5–7, 6–7
Win	5–10	Sep 1979	Pittsburgh	Carpet (i)	Template:Flagicon Candy Reynolds	Template:Flagicon Bunny Bruning Template:Flagicon Jane Stratton	6–3, 6–2
Loss	5–11	Dec 1979	Sydney	Grass	Template:Flagicon Pam Shriver	Template:Flagicon Billie Jean King Template:Flagicon Wendy Turnbull	5–7, 4–6
Loss	5–12	Dec 1979	Adelaide	Grass	Template:Flagicon Pam Shriver	Template:Flagicon Hana Mandlíková Template:Flagicon Virginia Ruzici	1–6, 6–3, 2–6
Win	6–12	Feb 1980	Oakland	Carpet (i)	Template:Flagicon Ann Kiyomura	Template:Flagicon Greer Stevens Template:Flagicon Virginia Wade	6–0, 6–4
Loss	6–13	Mar 1980	Tokyo	Carpet (i)	Template:Flagicon Ann Kiyomura	Template:Flagicon Billie Jean King Template:Flagicon Martina Navratilova	5–7, 3–6
Loss	6–14	Dec 1980	Adelaide	Grass	Template:Flagicon Sharon Walsh	Template:Flagicon Pam Shriver Template:Flagicon Betty Stöve	4–6, 3–6
Win	7–14	Feb 1981	Houston	Carpet (i)	Template:Flagicon Ann Kiyomura	Template:Flagicon Regina Maršíková Template:Flagicon Mary-Lou Piatek	5–7, 6–3, 6–4
Loss	7–15	Feb 1981	Seattle	Carpet (i)	Template:Flagicon Ann Kiyomura	Template:Flagicon Rosie Casals Template:Flagicon Wendy Turnbull	4–6, 1–6
Win	8–15	Mar 1981	Los Angeles	Carpet (i)	Template:Flagicon Ann Kiyomura	Template:Flagicon Peanut Louie Template:Flagicon Marita Redondo	6–1, 4–6, 6–1
Win	9–15	May 1981	Tokyo	Carpet (i)	Template:Flagicon Ann Kiyomura	Template:Flagicon Barbara Potter Template:Flagicon Sharon Walsh	7–5, 6–2
Loss	9–16	May 1981	Berlin	Clay	Template:Flagicon Renáta Tomanová	Template:Flagicon Rosalyn Fairbank Template:Flagicon Tanya Harford	3–6, 4–6
Win	10–16	Jun 1981	Surbiton	Grass	Template:Flagicon Ann Kiyomura	Template:Flagicon Billie Jean King Template:Flagicon Ilana Kloss	6–1, 6–7, 6–1
Loss	10–17	Aug 1981	Indianapolis	Clay	Template:Flagicon Paula Smith	Template:Flagicon JoAnne Russell Template:Flagicon Virginia Ruzici	2–6, 2–6
Win	11–17	Aug 1981	Richmond	Carpet (i)	Template:Flagicon Ann Kiyomura	Template:Flagicon Kathy Jordan Template:Flagicon Anne Smith	4–6, 7–6, 6–4
Win	12–17	Jan 1982	Cincinnati	Carpet (i)	Template:Flagicon Ann Kiyomura	Template:Flagicon Pam Shriver Template:Flagicon Anne Smith	6–2, 7–6
Loss	12–18	Feb 1982	Houston	Carpet (i)	Template:Flagicon Sharon Walsh	Template:Flagicon Kathy Jordan Template:Flagicon Pam Shriver	6–7^(6–8), 2–6

Performance timelinesEdit

Template:Performance key

" * " – Barker received a bye in the first round.
" ^ " – Barker withdrew prior to the match, which is not counted as a loss.

SinglesEdit

Tournament	1973	1974	1975	1976	1977		1978	1979	1980	1981	1982	1983	1984	Template:Tooltip	Template:Tooltip
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		citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	10<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1\|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	5<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1\|citation		CitationClass=web }}</ref>	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	10<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1\|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>

DoublesEdit

Tournament	1974	1975	1976	1977		1978	1979	1980	1981	1982	1983	1984	Template:Tooltip	Template:Tooltip
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											citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Mixed doublesEdit

Tournament	1974	1975	1976	1977	1978	1979	1980	1981	1982	1983	1984	Template:Tooltip	Template:Tooltip
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 CupEdit

Date	Venue	Surface	Round	Opponents	Final match score	Match	Opponent	Rubber score
1974 Federation Cup
Template:Nowrap 1974	Naples	Clay	SF	Template:Fed	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	Template:Fed	3–0	Singles	Sabine Bernegger	6–3, 6–2 (W)
			1R	Template:Fed	3–0	Doubles (with Glynis Coles)	Bernegger/Buche	6–3, 6–1 (W)
			QF	Template:Fed	1–2	Singles	Nathalie Fuchs	1–6, 6–1, 4–6 (L)
1976 Federation Cup
22–29 Aug 1976	Philadelphia, PA	Carpet (I)	1R	Template:Fed	3–0	Singles	Nathalie Fuchs	6–3, 6–0 (W)
			1R	Template:Fed	3–0	Doubles (with Virginia Wade)	Benedetti/Darmon	6–3, 6–2 (W)
			QF	Template:Fed	2–1	Singles	Linky Boshoff	6–1, 6–1 (W)
			QF	Template:Fed	2–1	Doubles (with Michelle Tyler)	Boshoff/Kloss	1–6, 4–6 (L)
			SF	Template:Fed	0–3	Singles	Dianne Fromholtz	2–6, 6–7 (L)
			SF	Template:Fed	0–3	Doubles (with Virginia Wade)	Cawley/Reid	1–6, 3–6 (L)
1977 Federation Cup
13–18 Jun 1977	Eastbourne	Grass	1R	Template:Fed	3–0	Singles	Dorte Ekner	6–3, 6–1 (W)
			1R	Template:Fed	3–0	Doubles (with Virginia Wade)	Ekner/Sparre	6–2, 6–2 (W)
			2R	Template:Fed	3–0	Singles	Choi Kyeong-Mi	6–1, 6–3 (W)
			2R	Template:Fed	3–0	Doubles (with Virginia Wade)	Choi/Lee	6–1, 6–0 (W)
			QF	Template:Fed	3–0	Singles	Mimmi Wikstedt	6–2, 6–0 (W)
			QF	Template:Fed	3–0	Doubles (with Virginia Wade)	Anliot/Wikstedt	6–2, 5–7, 6–3 (W)
			SF	Template:Fed	1–2	Singles	Dianne Fromholtz	3–6, 4–6 (L)
			SF	Template:Fed	1–2	Doubles (with Virginia Wade)	Reid/Turnbull	6–1, 6–4 (W)
1978 Federation Cup
27 Nov – 3 Dec 1978	Melbourne	Grass	1R	Template:Fed	3–0	Singles	Mónica Álvarez de Mon	6–0, 10–8 (W)
			2R	Template:Fed	2–1	Singles	Sylvia Hanika	3–6, 2–6 (L)
			2R	Template:Fed	2–1	Doubles (with Virginia Wade)	Ebbinghaus/Hanika	6–3, 6–0 (W)
			QF	Template:Fed	2–1	Doubles (with Virginia Wade)	Mandlíková/Tomanová	8–6, 7–5 (W)
			SF	Template:Fed	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	Template:Fed	3–0	Singles	Chris Newton	6–0, 6–0 (W)
			1R	Template:Fed	3–0	Doubles (with Virginia Wade)	Newton/Perry	6–1, 6–1 (W)
			2R	Template:Fed	3–0	Singles	Monique Van Haver	6–3, 11–9 (W)
			2R	Template:Fed	3–0	Doubles (with Virginia Wade)	Gurdal/Van Haver	6–3, 6–0 (W)
			QF	Template:Fed	0–3	Singles	Hana Mandlíková	6–3, 6–8, 4–6 (L)
1980 Federation Cup
19–25 May 1980	Berlin	Clay	1R	Template:Fed	3–0	Singles	Paulina Peled	4–6, 7–6, 6–1 (W)
			1R	Template:Fed	3–0	Doubles (with Glynis Coles)	Bialistozky/Peled	6–2, 6–3 (W)
			2R	Template:Fed	2–1	Singles	Adriana Villagrán-Reami	5–7, 7–6, 6–2 (W)
			2R	Template:Fed	2–1	Doubles (with Virginia Wade)	Madruga Osses/Villagrán-Reami	5–7, 6–2, 6–4 (W)
			QF	Template:Fed	0–3	Singles	Bettina Bunge	2–6, 0–6 (L)
			QF	Template:Fed	0–3	Doubles (with Virginia Wade)	Bunge/Hanika	3–6, 3–6 (L)
1981 Federation Cup
9–15 Nov 1981	Tokyo	Clay	1R	Template:Fed	3–0	Doubles (with Jo Durie)	de Witte/de Wouters	6–3, 6–3 (W)
			2R	Template:Fed	3–0	Singles	Corinne Vanier	4–6, 6–2, 10–8 (W)
			2R	Template:Fed	3–0	Doubles (with Virginia Wade)	Amiach/Tanvier	5–7, 6–1, 6–2 (W)
			QF	Template:Fed	2–1	Singles	Elena Eliseenko	4–6, 6–4, 6–4 (W)
			QF	Template:Fed	2–1	Doubles (with Virginia Wade)	Cherneva/Zaitseva	6–3, 6–1 (W)
			SF	Template:Fed	2–1	Singles	Wendy Turnbull	7–6, 3–6, 6–2 (W)
			SF	Template:Fed	2–1	Doubles (with Virginia Wade)	Leo/Turnbull	7–6, 6–3 (W)
			F	Template:Fed	0–3	Singles	Chris Evert	2–6, 1–6 (L)
1982 Federation Cup
19–25 Jul 1982	Santa Clara	Hard	1R	BYE
			2R	Template:Fed	3–0	Singles	Orly Bialistozky	6–1, 6–3 (W)
			QF	Template:Fed	1–2	Singles	Hana Mandlíková	7–6, 6–7, 3–6 (L)

Broadcasting careerEdit

File:SueBarkerWimbledon2016.jpg

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.<ref name="Sue">Template:Cite news</ref>

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<ref name="QoS" /> (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.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> She was a host of the annual BBC Sports Personality of the Year awards ceremony from 1994 to 2012 before stepping down in 2013.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

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).

For the Sydney 2000 Olympics, Barker lead the BBC's coverage of the games alongside Steve Rider. At the Athens 2004 Olympics, Barker again headed the BBC's coverage alongside Rider.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> At the Beijing 2008 Games, Barker fronted the day's evening action, as well as coverage of the Opening and Closing Ceremonies.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> At the London 2012 Games, Barker presented coverage of events through the afternoon.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> This was Barker's final time presenting the Summer Olympics.

For the Salt Lake City 2002 Winter Olympics, Barker was one of the BBC's lead presenters.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> This was a role she took up again for the Turin 2006 Games.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> For the Vancouver 2010 Olympics, Barker once again lead the BBC's coverage, as well as commentating on the figure skating alongside Robin Cousins.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Barker did not present coverage at the Sochi 2014 Games but did commentate on the figure skating events once again.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

At the Manchester 2002 Commonwealth Games, Baker headed the BBC's coverage alongside Rider.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> At the Melbourne 2006 Games, Barker lead coverage again, alongside Hazel Irvine and Clare Balding.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Barker again presented for the BBC at the Delhi 2010 Games, which would be her final Commonwealth Games.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Barker provided commentary for the 1998 video game Actua Tennis, along with fellow BBC broadcaster Barry Davies.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

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.<ref name=telegraph1>Template:Cite news</ref>

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."<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Barker was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the 2000 New Year Honours for services to sport and broadcasting,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the 2016 New Year Honours for services to broadcasting and charity<ref>Template:London Gazette</ref> and Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in the 2021 Birthday Honours for services to broadcasting and charity.<ref>Template:London Gazette</ref>

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".<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> 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.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

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. <ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Personal lifeEdit

At 17 years of age, Barker moved to California.<ref name=":0">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> 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."<ref name="eveningtimes1">Template:Cite news</ref> After her engagement was broken off, she had a brief relationship with golfer Greg Norman.<ref name="eveningtimes1" />

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".<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

In 1982, Barker met singer Cliff Richard. Their four-month-long<ref name=":0" /> 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.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref><ref>Template:Cite book</ref> 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."<ref name=eveningtimes2>Template:Cite news</ref> 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."<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

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."<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

In 1988, Barker married landscape gardener and former policeman Lance Tankard.<ref name=telegraph1 /><ref name=eveningtimes2 /> They live in the Cotswolds village of Stanton, Gloucestershire, after moving from a mansion on a 26-acre estate in Godalming, Surrey.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

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.<ref name=Indp1082723 />

In September 2022, Barker featured on Desert Island Discs;<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> 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.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

ReferencesEdit

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External linksEdit

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