 Barker in 2008 | |
| Country (sports) |  Great Britain |
|---|---|
| Residence | Stanton, Gloucestershire, England |
| Born | (1956-04-19)19 April 1956 (age 69) |
| Height | 5 ft 5 in (1.65 m) |
| Turned pro | 1972 |
| Retired | 1984 |
| Plays | Right-handed (one-handed backhand) |
| Prize money | US$ 878,701[1] |
| Singles | |
| Career record | 407–250 (61.9%) |
| Career titles | 23 (15 WTA) |
| Highest ranking | No. 3 (20 March 1977) |
| Grand Slam singles results | |
| Australian Open | SF (1975,1977Dec) |
| French Open | W (1976) |
| Wimbledon | SF (1977) |
| US Open | 4R (1976) |
| Other tournaments | |
| Tour Finals | F (1977) |
| Doubles | |
| Career record | 33–38 |
| Career titles | 12 |
| Last updated on: 15 November 2022. | |
Susan Barker (born 19 April 1956) is an English former professionaltennis player and television presenter. Barker won 15WTA Tour-level singles titles, including amajor at the1976 French Open. She reached a career-high singlesranking of world no. 3.[2]
Barker started working for theBBC as a tennis presenter in 1993 and, the following year, began to present coverage of theWimbledon tennis championships; she held this role until 2022.[3] In addition, Barker fronted coverage of other major sporting occasions and sports for the BBC, includingOlympic andCommonwealth Games, athletics and horse racing. Barker is also a former presenter ofA Question of Sport,Grandstand andBBC Sports Personality of the Year.
Barker was born on 19 April 1956, raised inPaignton, 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 coachedAngela 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'sforehand 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]
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 byMark McCormack'sInternational Management Group (IMG) on her 17th birthday, she moved to an IMG-provided townhouse in Newport Beach, California, where her neighbours included the newly retiredRod Laver, and was coached at theJohn Wayne Tennis Club.[4]
In 1973 and 1974 she won theExmouth Open atExmouth, Devon, on both occasions againstAnnette 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 theGerman Open in 1976, beatingRenáta 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 beatMartina Navratilova to reach theVirginia Slims Tour Championships final, where she lost in three sets toChris Evert. Barker reached the Australian Open semi-final for the second time in 1977 and reached theWimbledon semi-final that year. She looked set to meetVirginia Wade in the Wimbledon final in 1977, but unexpectedly lost her semi-final againstBetty 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 theBrighton 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 overChris Evert,Martina Navratilova,Billie Jean King,Evonne Goolagong,Tracy Austin,Virginia Wade,Maria Bueno,Rosemary Casals,Andrea Jaeger andPam Shriver. In 2004, recalling her French Open win of 1976, Barker said "I'm still incredibly proud of what I achieved."[6]
| Result | Year | Championship | Surface | Opponent | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Win | 1976 | French Open | Clay |  Renáta Tomanová | 6–2, 0–6, 6–2 |
| Result | Year | Championship | Surface | Opponent | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loss | 1977 | Virginia Slims Championships | Carpet (i) |  Chris Evert | 6–2, 1–6, 1–6 |
| 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) |
|
|
| Result | W-L | Date | Tournament | Surface | Opponent | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Win | 1–0 | May 1974 | Surbiton, UK | Grass | Sue Mappin | 6–2, 7–5 |
| Loss | 1–1 | Jun 1974 | Chichester, UK | Grass |  Paulina Peisachov | 2–6, 2–6 |
| Win | 2–1 | Jul 1974 | Båstad, Sweden | Clay | Marijke Jansen | 6–1, 7–5 |
| Win | 3–1 | Jul 1975 | Båstad, Sweden | Clay |  Helga Masthoff | 6–4, 6–0 |
| Win | 4–1 | Jul 1975 | Kitzbühel, Austria | Clay | Pam Teeguarden | 6–4, 6–4 |
| Loss | 4–2 | Nov 1975 | Paris, France | Carpet (i) | Virginia Wade | 1–6, 7–6, 7–9 |
| Win | 5–2 | Dec 1975 | Adelaide, Australia | Grass | Helga Masthoff | 6–5, ret. |
| Loss | 5–3 | Dec 1975 | Sydney, Australia | Grass |  Evonne Goolagong | 2–6, 4–6 |
| Win | 6–3 | Jan 1975 | Auckland, New Zealand | Grass | Helga Masthoff | 6–2, 6–1 |
| Loss | 6–4 | May 1976 | Bournemouth, UK | Clay | Helga Masthoff | 7–5, 3–6, 3–6 |
| Win | 7–4 | May 1976 | Hamburg, West Germany | Clay | Renáta Tomanová | 6–3, 6–1 |
| Win | 8–4 | May 1976 | French Open | Clay | Renáta Tomanová | 6–2, 0–6, 6–2 |
| Loss | 8–5 | Nov 1976 | Tokyo, Japan | Carpet (i) | Chris Evert | 2–6, 6–7 |
| Loss | 8–6 | Dec 1976 | Melbourne, Australia | Grass | Margaret Court | 2–6, 2–6 |
| Loss | 8–7 | Jan 1977 | Houston, US | Carpet (i) | Martina Navratilova | 6–7(3–7), 5–7 |
| Loss | 8–8 | Jan 1977 | Minneapolis, US | Carpet (i) | Martina Navratilova | 0–6, 1–6 |
| Loss | 8–9 | Feb 1977 | Detroit, US | Carpet (i) | Martina Navratilova | 4–6, 4–6 |
| Win | 9–9 | Feb 1977 | San Francisco, US | Carpet (i) | Virginia Wade | 6–3, 6–4 |
| Win | 10–9 | Mar 1977 | Dallas, US | Carpet (i) | Terry Holladay | 6–1, 7–6(7–4) |
| Loss | 10–10 | Mar 1977 | VS Championships, US | Carpet (i) | Chris Evert | 6–2, 1–6, 1–6 |
| Loss | 10–11 | Dec 1977 | Sydney, Australia | Grass | Evonne Goolagong | 2–6, 3–6 |
| Win | 11–11 | Nov 1978 | Brisbane, Australia | Grass | Chris O'Neil | 6–1, 6–3 |
| Loss | 11–12 | Mar 1979 | Boston, US | Carpet (i) | Dianne Fromholtz | 2–6, 6–7(4–7) |
| Loss | 11–13 | Mar 1979 | Carlsbad , US | Hard | Kerry Reid | 6–7, 6–3, 2–6 |
| Win | 12–13 | Jun 1979 | Manchester, UK | Grass | Anne Hobbs | 7–5, 4–6, 6–0 |
| Loss | 12–14 | Jun 1979 | Chichester, UK | Grass | Evonne Goolagong Cawley | 1–6, 4–6 |
| Win | 13–14 | Sep 1979 | Pittsburgh, US | Carpet (i) | Renée Richards | 6–3, 6–1 |
| Win | 14–14 | Dec 1979 | Sydney, Australia | Grass |  Rosalyn Fairbank | 6–0, 7–5 |
| Loss | 14–15 | Dec 1980 | Adelaide, Australia | Grass | Hana Mandlíková | 1–6, 4–6 |
| Loss | 14–16 | Aug 1981 | Richmond, US | Carpet (i) | Mary-Lou Piatek | 4–6, 1–6 |
| Win | 15–16 | Oct 1981 | Brighton, UK | Carpet (i) |  Mima Jaušovec | 4–6, 6–1, 6–1 |
|
|
| Result | W-L | Date | Tournament | Surface | Partner | Opponents | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loss | 0–1 | May 1975 | Rome | Clay | Glynis Coles | Chris EvertMartina Navratilova | 1–6, 2–6 |
| Win | 1–1 | Jul 1975 | Kitzbühel | Clay | Pam Teeguarden |  Fiorella Bonicelli Raquel Giscafré | 6–1, 6–3 |
| Win | 2–1 | Dec 1975 | Adelaide | Grass | Michelle Tyler | Kym RuddellJanet Young | 7–5, 6–3 |
| Loss | 2–2 | Dec 1975 | Perth | Grass | Michelle Tyler | Christine MatisonLesley Bowrey | 6–7, 3–6 |
| Loss | 2–3 | Aug 1976 | Toronto | Clay | Pam Teeguarden | Cynthia DoernerJanet Newberry | 7–6, 3–6, 1–6 |
| Win | 3–3 | Oct 1976 | Hilton Head Island | Clay | Evonne Goolagong | Martina NavratilovaVirginia Wade | 4–6, 6–4, 3–6 |
| Win | 4–3 | Nov 1976 | Tokyo | Carpet (i) | Ann Kiyomura | Rosie CasalsFrançoise Dürr | 4–6, 6–3, 6–1 |
| Loss | 4–4 | Jan 1977 | Houston | Carpet (i) | Ann Kiyomura | Martina NavratilovaBetty Stöve | 6–4, 2–6, 1–6 |
| Loss | 4–5 | Feb 1977 | San Francisco | Carpet (i) | Ann Kiyomura | Kerry ReidGreer Stevens | 3–6, 1–6 |
| Loss | 4–6 | Feb 1979 | Seattle | Carpet (i) | Ann Kiyomura | Françoise Dürr Betty Stöve | 6–7(4–7), 6–4, 4–6 |
| Loss | 4–7 | Feb 1979 | Detroit | Carpet (i) | Ann Kiyomura | Betty StöveWendy Turnbull | 4–6, 6–7(5–7) |
| Loss | 4–8 | Mar 1979 | Boston | Carpet (i) | Ann Kiyomura | Kerry Reid Wendy Turnbull | 4–6, 2–6 |
| Loss | 4–9 | Mar 1979 | Avon Championships | Carpet (i) | Ann Kiyomura | Françoise Dürr Betty Stöve | 6–7, 6–7 |
| Loss | 4–10 | Apr 1979 | Tokyo | Carpet (i) | Ann Kiyomura | Françoise Dürr Betty Stöve | 5–7, 6–7 |
| Win | 5–10 | Sep 1979 | Pittsburgh | Carpet (i) | Candy Reynolds | Bunny BruningJane Stratton | 6–3, 6–2 |
| Loss | 5–11 | Dec 1979 | Sydney | Grass | Pam Shriver | Billie Jean King Wendy Turnbull | 5–7, 4–6 |
| Loss | 5–12 | Dec 1979 | Adelaide | Grass | Pam Shriver | Hana Mandlíková Virginia Ruzici | 1–6, 6–3, 2–6 |
| Win | 6–12 | Feb 1980 | Oakland | Carpet (i) | Ann Kiyomura | Greer Stevens Virginia Wade | 6–0, 6–4 |
| Loss | 6–13 | Mar 1980 | Tokyo | Carpet (i) | Ann Kiyomura | Billie Jean King Martina Navratilova | 5–7, 3–6 |
| Loss | 6–14 | Dec 1980 | Adelaide | Grass | Sharon Walsh | Pam Shriver Betty Stöve | 4–6, 3–6 |
| Win | 7–14 | Feb 1981 | Houston | Carpet (i) | Ann Kiyomura | Regina MaršíkováMary-Lou Piatek | 5–7, 6–3, 6–4 |
| Loss | 7–15 | Feb 1981 | Seattle | Carpet (i) | Ann Kiyomura | Rosie Casals Wendy Turnbull | 4–6, 1–6 |
| Win | 8–15 | Mar 1981 | Los Angeles | Carpet (i) | Ann Kiyomura | Peanut LouieMarita Redondo | 6–1, 4–6, 6–1 |
| Win | 9–15 | May 1981 | Tokyo | Carpet (i) | Ann Kiyomura | Barbara PotterSharon Walsh | 7–5, 6–2 |
| Loss | 9–16 | May 1981 | Berlin | Clay | Renáta Tomanová | Rosalyn FairbankTanya Harford | 3–6, 4–6 |
| Win | 10–16 | Jun 1981 | Surbiton | Grass | Ann Kiyomura | Billie Jean KingIlana Kloss | 6–1, 6–7, 6–1 |
| Loss | 10–17 | Aug 1981 | Indianapolis | Clay | Paula Smith | JoAnne Russell Virginia Ruzici | 2–6, 2–6 |
| Win | 11–17 | Aug 1981 | Richmond | Carpet (i) | Ann Kiyomura | Kathy JordanAnne Smith | 4–6, 7–6, 6–4 |
| Win | 12–17 | Jan 1982 | Cincinnati | Carpet (i) | Ann Kiyomura | Pam Shriver Anne Smith | 6–2, 7–6 |
| Loss | 12–18 | Feb 1982 | Houston | Carpet (i) | Sharon Walsh | Kathy Jordan Pam Shriver | 6–7(6–8), 2–6 |
| W | F | SF | QF | #R | RR | Q# | DNQ | A | NH |
| 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] | ||||
| 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] | |||||||||||||
| 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 | |
| 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 (withVirginia 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 (withGlynis 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 (withVirginia Wade) | Benedetti/Darmon | 6–3, 6–2 (W) | ||||||
| QF | South Africa | 2–1 | Singles | Linky Boshoff | 6–1, 6–1 (W) | |||
| Doubles (withMichelle Tyler) | Boshoff/Kloss | 1–6, 4–6 (L) | ||||||
| SF | Australia | 0–3 | Singles | Dianne Fromholtz | 2–6, 6–7 (L) | |||
| Doubles (withVirginia 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 (withVirginia Wade) | Ekner/Sparre | 6–2, 6–2 (W) | ||||||
| 2R |  South Korea | 3–0 | Singles | Choi Kyeong-Mi | 6–1, 6–3 (W) | |||
| Doubles (withVirginia Wade) | Choi/Lee | 6–1, 6–0 (W) | ||||||
| QF |  Sweden | 3–0 | Singles | Mimmi Wikstedt | 6–2, 6–0 (W) | |||
| Doubles (withVirginia Wade) | Anliot/Wikstedt | 6–2, 5–7, 6–3 (W) | ||||||
| SF | Australia | 1–2 | Singles | Dianne Fromholtz | 3–6, 4–6 (L) | |||
| Doubles (withVirginia 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 (withVirginia Wade) | Ebbinghaus/Hanika | 6–3, 6–0 (W) | ||||||
| QF | Czechoslovakia | 2–1 | Doubles (withVirginia Wade) | Mandlíková/Tomanová | 8–6, 7–5 (W) | |||
| SF | United States | 0–3 | Doubles (withAnne 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 (withVirginia Wade) | Newton/Perry | 6–1, 6–1 (W) | ||||||
| 2R |  Belgium | 3–0 | Singles | Monique Van Haver | 6–3, 11–9 (W) | |||
| Doubles (withVirginia 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 (withGlynis Coles) | Bialistozky/Peled | 6–2, 6–3 (W) | ||||||
| 2R | Argentina | 2–1 | Singles | Adriana Villagrán-Reami | 5–7, 7–6, 6–2 (W) | |||
| Doubles (withVirginia 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 (withVirginia Wade) | Bunge/Hanika | 3–6, 3–6 (L) | ||||||
| 1981 Federation Cup | ||||||||
| 9–15 Nov 1981 | Tokyo | Clay | 1R | Belgium | 3–0 | Doubles (withJo 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 (withVirginia 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 (withVirginia Wade) | Cherneva/Zaitseva | 6–3, 6–1 (W) | ||||||
| SF | Australia | 2–1 | Singles | Wendy Turnbull | 7–6, 3–6, 6–2 (W) | |||
| Doubles (withVirginia 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) | |||
After retiring as a tennis player, Barker became a commentator and sports reporter for Australia'sChannel 7 in 1985 before anchoring tennis coverage forBritish Sky Broadcasting from 1990 to 1993. In 1993, Barker joined theBBC and hosted itsWimbledon coverage as a regular guest onToday at Wimbledon withHarry Carpenter. She took over as host ofToday 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 ofGrandstand and the presenter of the long-running sportsquiz showA Question of Sport[5] (QoS) since 1997, having succeededDavid Coleman. She retired asQoS 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 annualBBC Sports Personality of the Year awards ceremony from 1994 to 2012 before stepping down in 2013.[23]
Barker has hostedBBC Sport's coverage of the Australian Open, the French Open,Queens Club Championships,Eastbourne, theDavis Cup, theATP 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 atNewbury, the Great North Run,World Athletics Championships andEuropean Athletics Championships (1999–2009),BBC Sports Personality of the Year (1994–2012),Commonwealth Games (1994–2010),Summer Olympics (1996–2012) andWinter Olympics (1994–2010).
For theSydney 2000 Olympics, Barker led the BBC's coverage of the games alongsideSteve Rider. At theAthens 2004 Olympics, Barker again headed the BBC's coverage alongside Rider.[24] At theBeijing 2008 Games, Barker fronted the day's evening action, as well as coverage of the Opening and Closing Ceremonies.[25] At theLondon 2012 Games, Barker presented coverage of events through the afternoon.[26] This was Barker's final time presenting the Summer Olympics.
For theSalt Lake City 2002 Winter Olympics, Barker was one of the BBC's lead presenters.[27] This was a role she took up again for theTurin 2006 Games.[28] For theVancouver 2010 Olympics, Barker once again lead the BBC's coverage, as well as commentating on the figure skating alongsideRobin Cousins.[29] Barker did not present coverage at theSochi 2014 Games but did commentate on the figure skating events once again.[30]
At theManchester 2002 Commonwealth Games, Baker headed the BBC's coverage alongside Rider.[31] At theMelbourne 2006 Games, Barker lead coverage again, alongsideHazel Irvine andClare Balding.[32] Barker again presented for the BBC at theDelhi 2010 Games, which would be her final Commonwealth Games.[33]
Barker provided commentary for the 1998 video gameActua Tennis, along with fellow BBC broadcasterBarry Davies.[34]
In June 1999, she co-presented coverage ofPrince Edward's wedding toSophie Rhys-Jones atWindsor alongsideMichael Buerk. Barker had introduced Rhys-Jones toQueen 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 London2012 Summer Olympics. It was estimated to be worth £375,000 a year.[35]
In July 2012, theAdvertising Standards Authority in the UK received over 40 complaints for aGo Compare advert featuring Barker who was shown firing a large rocket launcher at opera singerGio 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."[36]
Barker was appointedMember of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the2000 New Year Honours for services to sport and broadcasting,[37]Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the2016 New Year Honours for services to broadcasting and charity[38] andCommander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in the2021 Birthday Honours for services to broadcasting and charity.[39]
In September 2020, it was announced that Barker would step down from her role as host of BBC game showA Question of Sport after 24 years; she stated that she was "sad to say goodbye".[40] 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.[41]
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.[42]
At 17 years of age, Barker moved to California.[43] In 1978, she broke off an engagement with Australian tennis playerSyd 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."[44] After her engagement was broken off, she had a brief relationship with golferGreg Norman.[44]
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".[45]
In 1982, Barker met singerCliff Richard. Their four-month-long[43] 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.[46][47] 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: "I suddenly realised that in a marriage you don't live for yourself."[48]And in 2008, that he had come close to asking her to marry him: "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."[49]
In 1986 some time after Barker's romance with Richard had ended and she began a brief relationship with tennis playerStephen Shaw, Richard said that he was still a friend of Barker: "We have a mutual respect for each other and that means a lot to me."[50]
In 1988, Barker married landscape gardener and former policeman Lance Tankard.[35][48] They live in the Cotswolds village ofStanton, Gloucestershire, after moving from a mansion on a 26-acre estate inGodalming, Surrey.[51]
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 onDesert Island Discs;[52] Her favourite chosen track was "Harry Hippie" byBobby Womack, with her choice of book and luxury item given asAll In by Billie Jean King and some New Zealandsauvignon blanc wine respectively.
Barker's autobiographyCalling the Shots was published in September 2022.[53]
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| Preceded by | Regular host ofQuestion of Sport 1997–2021 | Succeeded by |
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| Preceded by | RTS Television Sport Awards Best Sports Presenter 2001 | Succeeded by |
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| People | |