In the world of tennis, moments of elation after a triumph are inevitable and remain etched in history. However, sometimes it is also an unexpected interaction with the winner that lingers in everyone’s memories! One such delightful encounter occurred when Venus Williams won her first Wimbledon title in 2000. The former BBC representative, Sue Barker, found herself at the center of this charming episode with the former World No. 1. Recalling those moments, Barker shared her unique experience with Williams on that day (July 8, 2000).

Barker has graced the courts of Wimbledon with her impressive coverage of various players on-court for over three decades. However, when she interviewed Venus Williams, who won her maiden Grand Slam victory at the All England Club by defeating Lindsay Davenport in the final, her reaction was priceless. Reminiscing about the moment, Barker said, “I tried to dress up for the final, to look as smart as I could, and I spent a lot of money on some very posh shoes. So I’m standing there with my microphone, and Venus is jumping up and down, she’s won her first Wimbledon.”

Venus Williams, who just turned 20 that year, had a bit of a rough season in the first half of 2000. After a disappointing quarterfinal exit from the French Open, the fifth seed, Williams entered Wimbledon with the dream of achieving her first Grand Slam. After surpassing her sister, Serena, in the semifinals, she emerged victorious against the defending champion Davenport (6-3, 7-6(3)). Therefore, her excitement knew no bounds! Nevertheless, her interest in fashion never ceased to exist. 

The 68-year-old continued and stated, “So she’s walking over to me with the trophy, and she looks me up and down, and she goes, ‘Great shoes Sue.’ And I was like, whoa, she’s just won Wimbledon. And now, to the estimated 500 million, she’s talking about how wonderful my shoes are.”

With a degree in fashion design from the Art Institute of Fort Lauderdale, Williams’ keen interest in fashion also led her to start her own company, EleVen. It embodied her unique fashion statements and became an instant hit among fans. A glimpse of her interest was visible during her first Wimbledon win as well!

Although Barker revealed that she interviewed Venus Williams after another four of her wins later on in her career, she humorously added, “She never mentioned another part of my wardrobe. So obviously, I peaked in 2000 and failed after that!” 

For Venus Williams, it was just the start of her 35-match win streak after that. Winning 6 titles back-to-back, it remained one of the longest winning streaks on the WTA in the 21st century. Oblivious of her future at the time, Williams’ reaction after the match further added to the excitement!

Venus Williams reflects on her dream come true moment in tennis

Venus Williams created history in 2000 as she became the first African American tennis champion at Wimbledon since 1958. Happy at this great feat, the five-time Wimbledon champion, who turned pro back in 1994, said, “I’ve been working so hard all my life to be here. I go to bed at night and dream of winning a Grand Slam.”

Further adding, she said, “And when I wake up it’s a nightmare. So now that I’ve done it, I don’t have to wake up like that anymore.” Williams later on won the U.S. Open and a gold medal at the Olympics in the same year. As the Wimbledon of this season begins, the memories of Venus Williams creating history at Wimbledon still remain etched in every tennis fan’s hearts. But for Sue Barker, her fabulous pair of shoes will also remind her of the iconic day!