Nothing comes close to the afternoon when Andy ended that 77-year drought
SUE BARKER is the undoubted queen of Wimbledon. And this year, she is celebrating her Silver Jubilee.
This will be the 25th year in which Barker has been working for the BBC at the Championships. She has become as synonymous with Wimbledon as the green grass courts and strawberries and cream.
Her enthusiasm is the same for each of the 13 days of the tournament. Viewers love her beaming smile and repartee with the likes of John McEnroe and Tim Henman.
And her own successful career means she has the instant respect of the players when they come into the studio for an interview.
Barker reached as high as No.3 in the world as a player and won the French Open, but she never managed to win Wimbledon.
The closest she came was in Silver Jubilee year in 1977 when she reached the semi-finals, only to lose to Betty Stove.
Instead it was fellow Briton Virginia Wade who won the title and received the trophy from THE Queen.
But Sue is unequivocal when selecting her favourite Wimbledon memory from her years as both player and presenter.
It was that glorious afternoon in 2013 when Andy Murray became the Champion. In her role as on-court interviewer on finals day, she had seen Murray break down in tears the year before when he had lost to Roger Federer.
So she knew it was personal redemption for him and a moment of history for British sport when he defeated Novak Djokovic.
“I make no apologies for it, but nothing comes close to the afternoon when Andy Murray ended that 77-year drought for British men,” she says.
“I had worked on a documentary with Andy and his team before that year’s Wimbledon. I knew how much it meant to him, especially after losing in the final the previous year.
“I don’t think I’ve ever felt so nervous watching someone serve out a tennis match.
“You could see how overwhelmed he was from the emotion – I don’t think he knew where he was for a while just after he won.
“Quite simply, it was a privilege to watch.”
Murray was also involved in another one of Barker’s Wimbledon
I don’t think I’ve ever felt so nervous watching someone serve out a tennis match.
Sue interviews Andy after his first win at Wimbledon.
highlights, although this one owed more to her broadcasting perspective.
Presenting the coverage of the fortnight changed dramatically in 2009, thanks to the introduction of the Centre Court roof.
Suddenly the days of endless rain breaks and filling vast chunks of air time with re-runs of the Bjorn Borg v John McEnroe final from 1980 – or Sir Cliff Richard’s singing – were at an end.
The roof takes 10 minutes to close and there is barely a half-hour’s lapse before play can resume. It can then last until 11 o’clock at night.
And it was only fitting that Murray was involved in Wimbledon’s first ever ‘night’ match.
“The arrival of the roof over Centre Court has been a game-changer for organisers – and for broadcasters,” Sue admits.
“In that first week in 2009, we couldn’t wait for the rain to come, but then, of course, the British weather held fair.
“When theh rain finally arrived, there was a real buzz of anticipation.
“The first complete match under the roof was Andy versus Stan Wawrinka, and it was an absolute cracker. Andy finally clinched victory at about 10.30 in the evening.
“The atmosphere felt charged in a different way from a normal outdoor Centre Court match.
“Some may say the roof isn’t fair on all, but it has certainly delivered in terms of exciting matches.”
Sue will be on air from 11.30am tomorrow, but to whet everyone’s appetite for what’s ahead, she will be presenting a documentary later this afternoon.
It marks 90 years of Wimbledon coverage on the BBC and she has travelled the world to meet some of the greatest players to find out just how special this tournament is.
Sue Barker: Our Wimbledon (Today,
5.20 BBC1).