**Sue Barker Reflects on Emotional Departure from BBC’s Wimbledon Coverage**
Sue Barker, a familiar face for generations of tennis viewers, has described leaving her role as the lead presenter of the BBC’s Wimbledon coverage as an “agonising decision,” stating unequivocally that she “didn’t want to give up” the job she adored. Barker, who anchored the prestigious tournament across 22 years, spoke candidly about her departure and her continuing connection to the sport in a recent television interview.
From 2000 until 2022, Barker’s name was virtually synonymous with Wimbledon. The former French Open champion brought a blend of expertise and warmth to the BBC’s coverage, helming the nation’s summer ritual from the famed lawns of the All England Club. Tennis fans came to associate her calm authority and enthusiasm with the unfolding drama on Centre Court every year.
Barker stepped down from her longstanding role after the 2022 men’s final, which saw Novak Djokovic defeat Nick Kyrgios for the coveted title. Speaking about her exit, which she described as a personal choice, Barker confessed to a deep sense of loss, reflecting: “I will miss it terribly, I wish I was 30 years younger and starting out. I loved the job and I didn’t want to give it up but I felt it was the right time and I could walk out with my head held high, which I was able to do.”
The broadcaster was visibly moved during her farewell on Centre Court, as colleagues Clare Balding and John McEnroe led tributes and a standing ovation erupted. “The Centre Court standing ovation was, without question, the greatest moment in my career. By a long way. I am going to get emotional even thinking about it now,” she admitted, recalling the poignant send-off.
Barker’s two-decade stint covered a period of extraordinary change and achievement in British tennis, most memorably Andy Murray’s historic win in 2013—the first British male singles champion at Wimbledon since Fred Perry in 1936. Her coverage of that breakthrough moment remains a highlight, although it led to a rare moment of tension with BBC executives when she delivered a heartfelt, unscripted speech to mark Murray’s triumph.
Even after stepping aside from presenting, Barker’s passion for the tournament has endured. She has often attended matches at the All England Club, including a sighting at Cameron Norrie’s match against Carlos Alcaraz during this year’s semi-finals. In 2024, she made a special return to the grass courts to conduct an on-court interview with Andy Murray after what is expected to be his final appearance at the event.
Most recently, Barker embraced a light-hearted role in a promotional campaign for Emirates Airlines ahead of Wimbledon 2025. In the campaign, dubbed ‘the perfectionist’, she took on the responsibility of checking everything from line markings and net height to the quality of traditional cakes in the Emirates hospitality suite. This playful engagement highlighted her enduring affection for Wimbledon, even in retirement.
When quizzed about the possibility of fronting coverage for rival broadcasters such as TNT Sports – who are airing the tournament finals for the first time alongside the BBC – Barker was resolute. She asserted her belief that the BBC represented the pinnacle of sports broadcasting and made it plain she would not switch allegiances. There was, however, an early approach from Sky Sports after they secured rights to show the ATP and WTA tours in recent years. Barker clarified that though discussions took place, no formal offer was made, and she ultimately declined any potential role.
Following her departure, the BBC appointed veteran sports presenter Clare Balding as the new face of Wimbledon, supported by cricket broadcaster Isa Guha, who oversees earlier coverage. The transition marked the end of a remarkable era, with Barker’s influence still reverberating around SW19.
As Barker steps further from the sporting limelight, her legacy at Wimbledon seems assured. For British audiences, her voice and presence remain inextricably linked to some of tennis’s most iconic moments – and her reluctance to leave, even after decades on screen, is a testament to a career steeped in lasting passion for the sport.