SHE CAN BE WORLD No 1, SAYS SUE

SUE BARKER may have lost the distinction of being Britain’s youngest Grand Slam singles champion of the modern era, but she could not be happier. And the former French Open champion believes that the player who has now succeeded her, Emma Raducanu, may go on to follow Andy Murray in becoming a world No 1. Barker won Roland Garros in 1976 (right), having just turned 20 before going on to enjoy a hugely successful television career. On Saturday night she found herself marvelling along with the rest of the nation at the performance of the 18-year-old as she claimed the US Open. ‘You have to say that the sky’s the limit for Emma, she is definitely a potential world No 1,’ Barker told Sportsmail. ‘I was pinching myself at what I was watching.’ Currently on a theatre tour with the Question of Sport show, Barker saw most of it while being driven down from Nottingham to Brighton after Saturday’s performance. ‘There was a different feel to this match because neither of them were underdogs, but the way they handled it suggests they both have a great future. Emma was properly tested. ‘There’s a huge opportunity because the top of the game looks really open at present. There are questions around a lot of the best players and we’ve had new champions recently like Sofia Kenin and Jelena Ostapenko who have not really gone on. But I just feel that Emma has such a mature outlook, and with the way she reads the game she is going to be different. ‘Her performance was astonishing. There have been younger champions but I have never seen anyone with so little top-level experience play that well. With the speeches the players gave afterwards they are both such good role models and it’s great news for women’s tennis, which has been a bit down. I think Emma can add to her game, possibly a bit more variety, but so much is good you would not want to change much. Her backhand and forehand are outstanding and she backs it up with being a great athlete. She always seems to be there. ‘You can bet your life that other coaches will be studying her closely now, but there really is not much weakness to find there.’ Barker feels the off-court pressures may be harder to contend with, but is still optimistic that Raducanu can withstand them. ‘The world has changed since I won the French, there wasn’t the same coverage and it didn’t rock my world like winning Wimbledon might have done. ‘I think I got on the six o’clock news and I went on Nationwide but that was about it.’