Tennis legend Sue Barker has made her return to Wimbledon in an unexpected new capacity, three years after stepping down from her BBC presenting duties.
The 69-year-old former finalist has partnered with Emirates Airlines for a promotional campaign that sees her take on the role of ‘the perfectionist’.
Barker spent 22 years as the face of the BBC’s Wimbledon coverage before retiring in 2022.
Whilst she has made occasional appearances at SW19 since, including conducting Andy Murray’s farewell interview last year, this marks her first formal involvement with the tournament.
Tennis legend Sue Barker has made her return to Wimbledon in an unexpected new capacity, three years after stepping down from her BBC presenting duties
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Her new position involves a tongue-in-cheek examination of the All England Club’s preparations ahead of the 2025 Championships.
The role involves checking various aspects of tournament preparation with meticulous attention to detail.
Her duties include ensuring the court lines are properly painted, verifying the net height meets regulations, and even sampling cake in the Emirates hospitality suite to ensure quality standards are met.
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“It’s been a hive of activity as Wimbledon gets ready for an incredible fortnight of tennis. I have loved going behind the scenes in a different guise ensuring that all the little details around the grounds and in the Emirates hospitality suite are guest ready before gates open today at 10am,” Barker explained about her involvement in the campaign.
Beyond her promotional duties, Barker has shared her enthusiasm for British tennis prospect Jack Draper’s remarkable progress.
The Indian Wells champion has been widely tipped as a title contender at this year’s Championships despite Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner’s involvement.
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“Jack has just been a revelation,” Barker told The Independent.
She recalled speaking with him during his injury struggles: “I spoke to him a couple of years ago when he was having shoulder issues and wondering whether he’d ever play again, and now to see him what the heck was wrong with his shoulder, because now these bullets are coming out, the serve, the ground shots he’s hitting!
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“Most impressive is physically how he’s changed. He’s super-strong now, but I guess he has to be to compete with the top guys.”
Barker believes Draper now belongs in conversations alongside the sport’s elite, including both Sinner and Alcaraz.
Sue Barker stopped presenting Wimbledon for the BBC back in 2022
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“We always wondered who was ever going to take over from Roger, Rafa, Novak, and Andy. Now we have the answer,” she said.
“I thought we’d have a few lean years, but these guys are amazing. And now to have Jack right up there, being talked about in the same sentence, is fantastic.”
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