Being in the hot seat of one of the most prestigious shows is indeed a monumental achievement. For Sue Barker, it was a testament to her remarkable journey from tennis courts to the commentator’s booth. The former tennis player and beloved BBC commentator became an iconic figure in the world of sports broadcasting, endearing herself to millions of viewers with her insightful commentary and warm presence. However, her exit from the BBC was far from the fairy tale ending that many had envisioned. 

The former British tennis player Sue Barker engaged in a conversation with The Telegraph and opened up about her journey with the broadcasting company, BBC. Her journey with the organization lasted for almost three decades between 1993 and 2022. However, the now-68-year-old did not receive a farewell of its kind and expressed the reason for stepping down from her position. 

Speaking in the interview, Barker revealed that she realized it was the right time for her to quit. “You have to know, when is the right time to go? I just sensed that, as you get older, you’ve got not many years left.” Speaking further, she claimed to have received internal information about her role being diminished. “And when you’re hearing that they’re having meetings about who’s to replace you.”

While the former French Open winner was offered a contract by BBC to stay with the firm till 2025, she turned down the offer after thinking about it for several months. “Although they offered me a contract, I suddenly thought over those three years [on the contract extension], will it be a case of, ‘We’ll just diminish Sue’s role a little so that the transition is slightly easier.’ And I didn’t want to be diminished.” Barker’s statement reveals the weight she put on her self-respect over anything else. This, however, is not the first time Barker has expressed her resentment towards the BBC.

In a write-up for the Daily Mail, Barker revealed the mistreatment she received from BBC, about the quiz show ‘A Question Of Sport’ that she hosted. She shared that while BBC attempted on many occasions to oust her by either not including her name in the tender in 2016, or increasing indirect pressure on her team, it was the producers who did not let her go. However, the firm finally sacked the Brit in 2021, 24 years after she began to host the show. However, she does not regret her decision to step down.

Chatting further in the interview with Telegraph, Barker acknowledged that while maybe her retirement came early, it came exactly at the right time. “But in hindsight, it was absolutely the right time. And I couldn’t have picked a better year.” She further acknowledged John McEnroe‘s gesture during her retirement. “I mean, for Mac to do that on Centre Court… It was very humbling and very embarrassing, but just really meant the world to me.”

For the unversed, John McEnroe had compared Barker to Roger Federer in her last appearance. Bidding adieu to the former star, McEnroe had wished for a last hug from Barker. “You’re like the Roger Federer of the broadcasting world,” he had said. Meanwhile, Sue Barker is currently helping the former world no. 1 Roger Federer in his latest endeavor. 

Sue Barker acknowledged the tightly-knit rapport with Roger Federer

Sue Barker is known for similar things to Roger Federer. It wouldn’t be wrong to say that like Federer, she too loves grass especially because Wimbledon was the venue from where she started her broadcasting venture. She was spotted on the green courts last year as well, where she was meeting some old friends.

During her time away from the court, she was also seen promoting Swiss Maestro’s latest documentary, ‘FEDERER: Twelve Final Days’. Admitting her rapport with Federer, Barker revealed the bond they share. When asked if her best rapport was with the tennis legend, she said, “Probably. Because I interviewed him so many more times than anyone else. Roger is the easiest person to interview because he is so giving.” 

Meanwhile, it will be interesting to see if Barker will return to the London Grand Slam again this year. What remains more intriguing to be observed is whether she will enter the broadcasting zone or avoid it like last year.