View source for Sue Barker

{{Short description|English tennis player and television presenter}}
{{Use British English|date=November 2025}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2015}}
{{Infobox tennis biography
| name = Sue Barker<br/><small>[[Order of the British Empire|CBE]]</small>
| image = Sue Barker, October 2008.jpg
| caption = Barker in 2008
| country = {{flagicon|GBR}} [[Great Britain Fed Cup team|Great Britain]]
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1956|4|19|df=y}}
| birth_place = [[Paignton]], [[Devon]], England
| residence = [[Stanton, Gloucestershire]], England
| height = {{convert|5|ft|5|in|m|abbr=on}}
| weight = 
| turnedpro = 1972
| retired = 1984
| plays = Right-handed (one-handed backhand)
| careerprizemoney = [[United States Dollar|US$]] 878,701<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.wtatennis.com/players/player/549/title/sue-barker |title=Career Prize Money |website=WTA |date=25 September 2015}}</ref>
| singlesrecord =407–250 (61.9%)
| singlestitles =23 (15 WTA)
| highestsinglesranking = No. 3 (20 March 1977)
| AustralianOpenresult = SF ([[1975 Australian Open – Women's singles|1975]], [[1977 Australian Open (December) – Women's singles|1977<sup>Dec</sup>]])
| FrenchOpenresult = '''W''' ([[1976 French Open – Women's singles|1976]])
| Wimbledonresult = SF ([[1977 Wimbledon Championships – Women's singles|1977]])
| USOpenresult = 4R ([[1976 US Open – Women's singles|1976]])
| Othertournaments = Yes
| WTAChampionshipsresult = F ([[1977 Virginia Slims Championships|1977]])
| doublesrecord = 33–38
| doublestitles = 12
| highestdoublesranking = 
| updated = 15 November 2022
}}
'''Susan Barker''' (born 19 April 1956) is an English former professional [[tennis]] player and television presenter. Barker won 15 [[WTA Tour]]-level singles titles, including a [[Grand Slam (tennis)#Tournaments|major]] at the [[1976 French Open – Women's singles|1976 French Open]]. She reached a career-high singles [[WTA rankings|ranking]] of world no. 3.<ref>{{cite web |title=Sue Barker – Speakers Biography |publisher=Speakers.co.uk |url=http://www.speakers.co.uk/csaWeb/speaker,SUEBAR |access-date=16 December 2010}}</ref>

Barker started working for the [[BBC]] as a tennis presenter in 1993 and, the following year, began to present coverage of the [[The Championships, Wimbledon|Wimbledon]] tennis championships; she held this role until 2022.<ref>{{cite news |date=9 June 2022 |title=Sue Barker to step down as Wimbledon presenter after 2022 tournament |work=BBC Sport |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/tennis/61751601 |access-date=9 June 2022}}</ref> In addition, Barker fronted coverage of other major sporting occasions and sports for the BBC, including [[Olympic Games|Olympic]] and [[Commonwealth Games]], athletics and horse racing. Barker is also a former presenter of ''[[A Question of Sport]], [[Grandstand (TV programme)|Grandstand]]'' and [[BBC Sports Personality of the Year]].

==Early life==
Barker was born on 19 April 1956, raised in [[Paignton]], Devon, and educated at a convent school. She is the youngest of three children, with an older brother and sister.<ref>{{Cite web|title=In Conversation With… Sue Barker {{!}} SheerLuxe|url=https://sheerluxe.com/life/conversation-sue-barker|website=sheerluxe.com|date=2023-09-04|access-date=2025-11-30|language=en-gb}}</ref> In 1966, aged 10, she was picked out as the second of two girls who were to receive tennis coaching from Arthur Roberts, who had coached [[Angela Mortimer]] to three Grand Slam titles.<ref name=Indp1082723 /> 

Roberts continued coaching her beyond the selection prize commitment, charging only £1/session to allow her development to continue. Barker's [[forehand]] was her strongest and most admired weapon throughout her career, with Roberts describing it as "especially potent".<ref name="QoS">{{cite news |title=Meet the Question of Sport regulars |work=[[BBC Sport]] |date=12 September 2003 |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/question_of_sport/meet_the_team/default.stm |access-date=18 May 2007}}</ref> 

Advised as a teenager by a visiting LTA coach to change her forehand, Roberts told her not to and he later resigned from the LTA Coaches Association in protest at the advice. Roberts later entered Barker into tournaments on the continent, providing her with a one-way ticket there and telling her to "earn your ticket home". Roberts remained Barker's mentor throughout her career.<ref name=Indp1082723>{{cite news |last=Viner |first=Brian |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/the-brian-viner-interview-sue-barker--barkers-happy-return-to-the-fore-1082723.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220525/https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/the-brian-viner-interview-sue-barker--barkers-happy-return-to-the-fore-1082723.html |archive-date=25 May 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |title=Barker's happy return to the fore |newspaper=[[The Independent]] |location=London |date=24 March 1999 |access-date=29 December 2012}}</ref>

==Tennis career==
Aged 16, and ranked 21st in the WTA rankings, Barker was advised by Roberts to move to the United States for her development.<ref name=Indp1082723 /> Signed by [[Mark McCormack]]'s [[IMG (company)|International Management Group (IMG)]] on her 17th birthday, she moved to an IMG-provided townhouse in Newport Beach, California, where her neighbours included the newly retired [[Rod Laver]], and was coached at the [[John Wayne Tennis Club]].<ref name=Indp1082723 />

In 1973 and 1974 she won the [[Exmouth Open]] at [[Exmouth, Devon]], on both occasions against [[Annette Coe]]. In 1975, Barker won her first top-level singles title and three additional titles. Barker reached her first Grand Slam semi-final in 1975 at the Australian Open. She won the [[Qatar Telecom German Open|German Open]] in 1976, beating [[Renáta Tomanová]] of Czechoslovakia in the final 6–3, 6–1.

Later in 1976, Barker had the biggest victory of her career by winning the French Open at the age of 20, again defeating Tomanová in the final.<ref name="French">{{cite news |title=Barker recalls her golden moment |work=BBC Sport |date=21 May 2004 |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/tennis/3735281.stm |access-date=18 May 2007}}</ref> After her French Open victory against Tomanová, Barker felt that it would be the first of a number of Grand Slam titles that she would win, but she would not reach another Grand Slam final in her career.<ref name="French" />

In 1977 Barker won two singles titles in San Francisco and Dallas. She beat [[Martina Navratilova]] to reach the [[WTA Tour Championships|Virginia Slims Tour Championships]] final, where she lost in three sets to [[Chris Evert]]. Barker reached the Australian Open semi-final for the second time in 1977 and reached the [[The Championships, Wimbledon|Wimbledon]] semi-final that year. She looked set to meet [[Virginia Wade]] in the Wimbledon final in 1977, but unexpectedly lost her semi-final against [[Betty Stöve]] of the Netherlands.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/devon/discovering/famous/sue_barker.shtml |title=Devon – Discover Devon |publisher=BBC |date=30 January 2008 |access-date=29 December 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130715145406/http://www.bbc.co.uk/devon/discovering/famous/sue_barker.shtml |archive-date=15 July 2013 |df=dmy-all}}</ref>

Years later, Barker said that losing to Stöve was the biggest disappointment of her career and admitted that she was so upset at losing in the 1977 Wimbledon semi-final that she could not bear to watch the final, which was won by Wade.<ref>{{cite news |first=Jon |last=Henderson |url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2007/jul/08/tennis.wimbledon5 |title=Tennis: Say it's not so Sue |work=The Guardian |date=8 July 2007 |access-date=29 December 2012 |location=London}}</ref>

After an injury-plagued 1978 during which her ranking dropped to World No. 24, she won three singles titles and reached three other finals in 1979. She was named the tour's "Comeback Player of the Year" by her fellow professionals.<ref name="WTA1">{{cite web |title=Sue Barker (GBR) |publisher=Sony Ericsson WTA Tour |url=http://www.sonyericssonwtatour.com/2/players/playerprofiles/PlayerBio2.asp?PlayerID=20172 |access-date=18 May 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070930102103/http://www.sonyericssonwtatour.com/2/players/playerprofiles/PlayerBio2.asp?PlayerID=20172 <!-- Bot retrieved archive --> |archive-date=30 September 2007}}</ref> Barker reached one final in 1980 and won the last singles title of her career at the [[Brighton International]] in 1981, finishing the year ranked World No. 16. She won her last doubles title in 1982 at Cincinnati and played her last professional match in 1984.

Barker won 15 singles titles and 12 doubles titles, with wins over [[Chris Evert]], [[Martina Navratilova]], [[Billie Jean King]], [[Evonne Goolagong]], [[Tracy Austin]], [[Virginia Wade]], [[Maria Bueno]], [[Rosemary Casals]], [[Andrea Jaeger]] and [[Pam Shriver]]. In 2004, recalling her French Open win of 1976, Barker said "I'm still incredibly proud of what I achieved."<ref name="French" />

==Major finals==

===Grand Slam finals===

====Singles (1 title)====
{|class="sortable wikitable" 
!Result
!Year
!style="width:180px"|Championship
!style="width:50px"|Surface
!style="width:140px"|Opponent
!style="width:110px" class="unsortable"|Score
|- 
| style="background:#98fb98;" | Win || [[1976 French Open – Women's singles|1976]] || style="background:#ebc2af;"|French Open || Clay || {{flagicon|TCH}} [[Renáta Tomanová]] || 6–2, 0–6, 6–2
|}

===Year-end championships finals===

====Singles (1 runner–up)====
{|class="sortable wikitable" 
!Result
!Year
!style="width:180px"|Championship
!style="width:50px"|Surface
!style="width:140px"|Opponent
!style="width:110px" class="unsortable"|Score
|- 
| style="background:#ffa07a;" | Loss || [[1977 Virginia Slims Championships|1977]] || style="background:#ffc;"|[[Virginia Slims Championships]]|| Carpet (i) || {{flagicon|USA}} [[Chris Evert]] || 6–2, 1–6, 1–6
|}

====Doubles (1 runner–up)====
{|class="sortable wikitable" 
!Result
!Year
!style="width:180px"|Championship 
!style="width:50px"|Surface
!style="width:140px"|Partner
!style="width:140px"|Opponents
!style="width:120px" class="unsortable"|Score
|- 
| style="background:#ffa07a;" | Loss || [[1979 Avon Championships|1979]] || style="background:#ffc;"|[[Avon Championships]] || Carpet (i) || {{flagicon|USA}} [[Ann Kiyomura]] || {{flagicon|FRA}} [[Françoise Dürr]] <br /> {{flagicon|NED}} [[Betty Stöve]] || 6–7<sup>(1–7)</sup>, 6–7<sup>(3–7)</sup>
|}

==WTA Tour finals==

===Singles: 31 (15–16)===
{|
|- valign=top
|
{| class=wikitable style=font-size:97%
|-
! Winner – Legend
|-
| style="background:#f3e6d7;" | Grand Slam tournaments (1–0)
|-
| style="background:#ffc;" | WTA Tour Championships (0–1)
|-
| Virginia Slims, Avon, Other (14–15)
|}
|
{| class=wikitable style=font-size:97%
|-
! Titles by surface
|-
| Hard (0–1)
|-
| Grass (6–6)
|-
| Clay (5–1)
|-
| Carpet (4–8)
|}
|}
{| class="sortable wikitable" 
|-
! Result
! style="width:42px" class="unsortable"|W-L
! style="width:55px"|Date
! style="width:190px"|Tournament
! style="width:60px"|Surface
! style="width:200px"|Opponent
! style="width:140px" class="unsortable"|Score
|-
| style="background:#98fb98;"|Win
| 1–0
| May 1974
| [[Surrey Championships|Surbiton]], UK
| Grass
| {{flagicon|GBR}} [[Sue Mappin]]
| 6–2, 7–5
|-
| style="background:#ffa07a;"|Loss
| 1–1
| Jun 1974
| [[Chichester Tennis Tournament|Chichester]], UK
| Grass
| {{flagicon|ISR}} [[Paulina Peled|Paulina Peisachov]]
| 2–6, 2–6
|-
| style="background:#98fb98;"|Win
| 2–1
| Jul 1974
| [[Swedish Open|Båstad]], Sweden
| Clay
| {{flagicon|NED}} [[Marijke Schaar|Marijke Jansen]]
| 6–1, 7–5
|-
| style="background:#98fb98;"|Win
| 3–1
| Jul 1975
| [[Swedish Open|Båstad]], Sweden
| Clay
| {{flagicon|FRG}} [[Helga Masthoff]]
| 6–4, 6–0
|-
| style="background:#98fb98;"|Win
| 4–1
| Jul 1975
| [[1975 Austrian Open (tennis)|Kitzbühel]], Austria
| Clay
| {{flagicon|USA}} [[Pam Teeguarden]]
| 6–4, 6–4
|-
| style="background:#ffa07a;"|Loss
| 4–2
| Nov 1975
| [[:fr:French Indoors|Paris]], France
| Carpet (i)
| {{flagicon|GBR}} [[Virginia Wade]]
| 1–6, 7–6, 7–9
|-
| style="background:#98fb98;"|Win
| 5–2
| Dec 1975
| [[:fr:Tournoi de tennis d'Adélaïde|Adelaide]], Australia
| Grass
| {{flagicon|FRG}} Helga Masthoff
| 6–5, ret.
|-
| style="background:#ffa07a;"|Loss
| 5–3
| Dec 1975
| [[Sydney International|Sydney]], Australia
| Grass
| {{flagicon|AUS}} [[Evonne Goolagong]]
| 2–6, 4–6
|-
| style="background:#98fb98;"|Win
| 6–3
| Jan 1975
| [[:fr:Tournoi de tennis d'Auckland|Auckland]], New Zealand
| Grass
| {{flagicon|FRG}} Helga Masthoff
| 6–2, 6–1
|-
| style="background:#ffa07a;"|Loss
| 6–4
| May 1976
| [[British Hard Court Championships|Bournemouth]], UK
| Clay
| {{flagicon|FRG}} Helga Masthoff
| 7–5, 3–6, 3–6
|-
| style="background:#98fb98;"|Win
| 7–4
| May 1976
| [[WTA German Open|Hamburg]], West Germany
| Clay
| {{flagicon|TCH}} [[Renáta Tomanová]]
| 6–3, 6–1
|- style="background:#f3e6d7;"
| style="background:#98fb98;"|Win
| 8–4
| May 1976
| French Open
| Clay
| {{flagicon|TCH}} Renáta Tomanová 
| 6–2, 0–6, 6–2
|-
| style="background:#ffa07a;"|Loss
| 8–5
| Nov 1976
| [[:fr:Tournoi de tennis Tokyo Indoors|Tokyo]], Japan
| Carpet (i)
| {{flagicon|USA}} [[Chris Evert]]
| 2–6, 6–7
|-
| style="background:#ffa07a;"|Loss
| 8–6
| Dec 1976
| [[:fr:Tournoi de tennis de Melbourne|Melbourne]], Australia
| Grass
| {{flagicon|AUS}} [[Margaret Court]]
| 2–6, 2–6
|-
| style="background:#ffa07a;"|Loss
| 8–7
| Jan 1977
| [[Virginia Slims of Houston|Houston]], US
| Carpet (i)
| {{flagicon|TCH}} [[Martina Navratilova]]
| 6–7<sup>(3–7)</sup>, 5–7
|-
| style="background:#ffa07a;"|Loss
| 8–8
| Jan 1977
| [[US Indoor Championships|Minneapolis]], US
| Carpet (i)
| {{flagicon|TCH}} Martina Navratilova
| 0–6, 1–6
|-
| style="background:#ffa07a;"|Loss
| 8–9
| Feb 1977
| [[Virginia Slims of Detroit|Detroit]], US
| Carpet (i)
| {{flagicon|TCH}} Martina Navratilova
| 4–6, 4–6
|-
| style="background:#98fb98;"|Win
| 9–9
| Feb 1977
| [[Bank of the West Classic|San Francisco]], US
| Carpet (i)
| {{flagicon|GBR}} Virginia Wade
| 6–3, 6–4
|-
| style="background:#98fb98;"|Win
| 10–9
| Mar 1977
| [[Virginia Slims of Dallas|Dallas]], US
| Carpet (i)
| {{flagicon|USA}} [[Terry Holladay]]
| 6–1, 7–6<sup>(7–4)</sup>
|- style="background:#ffc;"
| style="background:#ffa07a;"|Loss
| 10–10
| Mar 1977
| [[WTA Tour Championships|VS Championships]], US
| Carpet (i)
| {{flagicon|USA}} Chris Evert
| 6–2, 1–6, 1–6
|-
| style="background:#ffa07a;"|Loss
| 10–11
| Dec 1977
| [[1977 Marlboro NSW Open|Sydney]], Australia
| Grass
| {{flagicon|AUS}} Evonne Goolagong
| 2–6, 3–6
|-
| style="background:#98fb98;"|Win
| 11–11
| Nov 1978
| [[Queensland Open|Brisbane]], Australia
| Grass 
| {{flagicon|AUS}} [[Chris O'Neil (tennis)|Chris O'Neil]]
| 6–1, 6–3
|-
| style="background:#ffa07a;"|Loss
| 11–12
| Mar 1979
| [[Virginia Slims of Boston|Boston]], US
| Carpet (i)
| {{flagicon|AUS}} [[Dianne Fromholtz]]
| 2–6, 6–7<sup>(4–7)</sup>
|-
| style="background:#ffa07a;"|Loss
| 11–13
| Mar 1979
| [[:fr:Tournoi de tennis de Carlsbad|Carlsbad]] , US
| Hard
| {{flagicon|AUS}} [[Kerry Reid]]
| 6–7, 6–3, 2–6
|-
| style="background:#98fb98;"|Win
| 12–13
| Jun 1979
| [[:fr:Tournoi de tennis de Manchester|Manchester]], UK
| Grass 
| {{flagicon|GBR}} [[Anne Hobbs]]
| 7–5, 4–6, 6–0
|-
| style="background:#ffa07a;"|Loss
| 12–14
| Jun 1979
| [[Chichester Tennis Tournament|Chichester]], UK
| Grass
| {{flagicon|AUS}} Evonne Goolagong Cawley
| 1–6, 4–6
|-
| style="background:#98fb98;"|Win
| 13–14
| Sep 1979
| [[Pittsburgh Open|Pittsburgh]], US
| Carpet (i)
| {{flagicon|USA}} [[Renée Richards]]
| 6–3, 6–1
|-
| style="background:#98fb98;"|Win
| 14–14
| Dec 1979
| [[WTA Sydney|Sydney]], Australia
| Grass
| {{flagicon|RSA|1928}} [[Rosalyn Fairbank]]
| 6–0, 7–5
|-
| style="background:#ffa07a;"|Loss
| 14–15
| Dec 1980
| [[National Panasonic Open|Adelaide]], Australia
| Grass
| {{flagicon|TCH}} [[Hana Mandlíková]]
| 1–6, 4–6
|-
| style="background:#ffa07a;"|Loss
| 14–16
| Aug 1981
| [[Central Fidelity Banks International|Richmond]], US
| Carpet (i)
| {{flagicon|USA}} [[Mary-Lou Piatek]]
| 4–6, 1–6
|-
| style="background:#98fb98;"|Win
| 15–16
| Oct 1981
| [[Brighton International|Brighton]], UK
| Carpet (i)
| {{flagicon|YUG}} [[Mima Jaušovec]]
| 4–6, 6–1, 6–1
|}

===Doubles: 30 (12–18)===
{|
|- valign=top
|
{| class=wikitable style=font-size:97%
|-
! Winner – Legend
|-
| style="background:#f3e6d7;" | Grand Slam tournaments (0–0)
|-
| style="background:#ffc;" | WTA Tour Championships (0–1)
|-
| Virginia Slims, Avon, Other (12–17)
|}
|
{| class=wikitable style=font-size:97%
|-
! Titles by surface
|-
| Hard (0–0)
|-
| Grass (2–4)
|-
| Clay (2–4)
|-
| Carpet (8–10)
|}
|}
{| class="sortable wikitable" 
|-
! Result
! style="width:42px" class="unsortable"|W-L
! style="width:55px"|Date
! style="width:190px"|Tournament
! style="width:60px"|Surface
! style="width:180px"|Partner
! style="width:180px"|Opponents
! style="width:130px" class="unsortable"|Score
|-
| style="background:#ffa07a;"|Loss
| 0–1
| May 1975
| [[Italian Open (tennis)|Rome]]
| Clay
| {{flagicon|GBR}} [[Glynis Coles]]
| {{flagicon|USA}} [[Chris Evert]] <br /> {{flagicon|TCH}} [[Martina Navratilova]]
| 1–6, 2–6
|-
| style="background:#98fb98;"|Win
| 1–1
| Jul 1975
| [[WTA Austrian Open|Kitzbühel]]
| Clay
| {{flagicon|USA}} [[Pam Teeguarden]]
| {{flagicon|URU}} [[Fiorella Bonicelli]] <br /> {{flagicon|ARG}} [[Raquel Giscafré]]
| 6–1, 6–3
|-
| style="background:#98fb98;"|Win
| 2–1
| Dec 1975
| [[:fr:Tournoi d'Adélaïde|Adelaide]]
| Grass
| {{flagicon|GBR}} [[:fr:Michelle Tyler Wilson|Michelle Tyler]]
| {{flagicon|AUS}} [[Kym Ruddell]] <br /> {{flagicon|AUS}} [[Janet Young (tennis)|Janet Young]]
| 7–5, 6–3
|-
| style="background:#ffa07a;"|Loss
| 2–2
| Dec 1975
| [[Western Australian Championships|Perth]]
| Grass
| {{flagicon|GBR}} Michelle Tyler
| {{flagicon|AUS}} [[Christine Matison]] <br /> {{flagicon|AUS}} [[Lesley Bowrey]]
| 6–7, 3–6
|-
| style="background:#ffa07a;"|Loss
| 2–3
| Aug 1976
| [[Canadian Open (tennis)|Toronto]]
| Clay
| {{flagicon|USA}} Pam Teeguarden
| {{flagicon|AUS}} [[Cynthia Doerner]] <br /> {{flagicon|USA}} [[Janet Newberry]]
| 7–6, 3–6, 1–6
|-
| style="background:#98fb98;"|Win
| 3–3
| Oct 1976
| [[:fr:Classic Hilton Head|Hilton Head Island]]
| Clay
| {{flagicon|AUS}} [[Evonne Goolagong]]
| {{flagicon|TCH}} Martina Navratilova <br /> {{flagicon|GBR}} [[Virginia Wade]]
| 4–6, 6–4, 3–6
|-
| style="background:#98fb98;"|Win
| 4–3
| Nov 1976
| [[:fr:Classic Japan|Tokyo]]
| Carpet (i)
| {{flagicon|USA}} [[Ann Kiyomura]]
| {{flagicon|USA}} [[Rosie Casals]] <br /> {{flagicon|FRA}} [[Françoise Dürr]]
| 4–6, 6–3, 6–1
|-
| style="background:#ffa07a;"|Loss
| 4–4
| Jan 1977
| [[Virginia Slims of Houston|Houston]]
| Carpet (i)
| {{flagicon|USA}} Ann Kiyomura
| {{flagicon|TCH}} Martina Navratilova <br /> {{flagicon|NED}} [[Betty Stöve]]
| 6–4, 2–6, 1–6
|-
| style="background:#ffa07a;"|Loss
| 4–5
| Feb 1977
| [[Bank of the West Classic|San Francisco]]
| Carpet (i)
| {{flagicon|USA}} Ann Kiyomura
| {{flagicon|AUS}} [[Kerry Reid]] <br /> {{flagicon|RSA|1928}} [[Greer Stevens]]
| 3–6, 1–6
|-
| style="background:#ffa07a;"|Loss
| 4–6
| Feb 1979
| [[WTA Seattle|Seattle]]
| Carpet (i)
| {{flagicon|USA}} Ann Kiyomura
| {{flagicon|FRA}} Françoise Dürr <br /> {{flagicon|NED}} Betty Stöve
| 6–7<sup>(4–7)</sup>, 6–4, 4–6
|-
| style="background:#ffa07a;"|Loss
| 4–7
| Feb 1979
| [[Virginia Slims of Detroit|Detroit]]
| Carpet (i)
| {{flagicon|USA}} Ann Kiyomura
| {{flagicon|NED}} Betty Stöve <br /> {{flagicon|AUS}} [[Wendy Turnbull]]
| 4–6, 6–7<sup>(5–7)</sup>
|-
| style="background:#ffa07a;"|Loss
| 4–8
| Mar 1979
| [[Virginia Slims of Boston|Boston]]
| Carpet (i)
| {{flagicon|USA}} Ann Kiyomura
| {{flagicon|AUS}} Kerry Reid <br /> {{flagicon|AUS}} Wendy Turnbull
| 4–6, 2–6
|- style="background:#ffc;"
| style="background:#ffa07a;"|Loss
| 4–9
| Mar 1979
| [[WTA Tour Championships|Avon Championships]]
| Carpet (i)
| {{flagicon|USA}} Ann Kiyomura
| {{flagicon|FRA}} Françoise Dürr <br /> {{flagicon|NED}} Betty Stöve
| 6–7, 6–7
|-
| style="background:#ffa07a;"|Loss
| 4–10
| Apr 1979
| [[WTA Doubles Championships|Tokyo]]
| Carpet (i)
| {{flagicon|USA}} Ann Kiyomura
| {{flagicon|FRA}} Françoise Dürr <br /> {{flagicon|NED}} Betty Stöve
| 5–7, 6–7
|-
| style="background:#98fb98;"|Win
| 5–10
| Sep 1979
| [[Pittsburgh Open|Pittsburgh]]
| Carpet (i)
| {{flagicon|USA}} [[Candy Reynolds]]
| {{flagicon|USA}} [[Bunny Bruning]] <br /> {{flagicon|USA}} [[Jane Stratton]]
| 6–3, 6–2
|-
| style="background:#ffa07a;"|Loss
| 5–11
| Dec 1979
| [[WTA Sydney Open|Sydney]]
| Grass
| {{flagicon|USA}} [[Pam Shriver]]
| {{flagicon|USA}} [[Billie Jean King]] <br /> {{flagicon|AUS}} Wendy Turnbull
| 5–7, 4–6
|-
| style="background:#ffa07a;"|Loss
| 5–12
| Dec 1979
| [[:fr:Tournoi d'Adélaïde|Adelaide]]
| Grass
| {{flagicon|USA}} Pam Shriver
| {{flagicon|TCH}} [[Hana Mandlíková]] <br /> {{flagicon|ROM|1965}} [[Virginia Ruzici]]
| 1–6, 6–3, 2–6
|-
| style="background:#98fb98;"|Win
| 6–12
| Feb 1980
| [[Bank of the West Classic|Oakland]]
| Carpet (i)
| {{flagicon|USA}} Ann Kiyomura
| {{flagicon|RSA|1928}} Greer Stevens <br /> {{flagicon|GBR}} Virginia Wade
| 6–0, 6–4
|-
| style="background:#ffa07a;"|Loss
| 6–13
| Mar 1980
| [[WTA Doubles Championships|Tokyo]]
| Carpet (i)
| {{flagicon|USA}} Ann Kiyomura
| {{flagicon|USA}} Billie Jean King <br /> {{flagicon|TCH}} Martina Navratilova
| 5–7, 3–6
|-
| style="background:#ffa07a;"|Loss
| 6–14
| Dec 1980
| [[National Panasonic Open|Adelaide]]
| Grass
| {{flagicon|USA}} [[Sharon Walsh]]
| {{flagicon|USA}} [[Pam Shriver]] <br /> {{flagicon|NED}} Betty Stöve
| 4–6, 3–6
|-
| style="background:#98fb98;"|Win
| 7–14
| Feb 1981
| [[Virginia Slims of Houston|Houston]]
| Carpet (i)
| {{flagicon|USA}} Ann Kiyomura
| {{flagicon|TCH}} [[Regina Maršíková]] <br /> {{flagicon|USA}} [[Mary-Lou Piatek]]
| 5–7, 6–3, 6–4
|-
| style="background:#ffa07a;"|Loss
| 7–15
| Feb 1981
| [[WTA Seattle|Seattle]]
| Carpet (i)
| {{flagicon|USA}} Ann Kiyomura
| {{flagicon|USA}} Rosie Casals <br /> {{flagicon|AUS}} Wendy Turnbull
| 4–6, 1–6
|-
| style="background:#98fb98;"|Win
| 8–15
| Mar 1981
| [[LA Women's Tennis Championships|Los Angeles]]
| Carpet (i)
| {{flagicon|USA}} Ann Kiyomura
| {{flagicon|USA}} [[Peanut Louie]] <br /> {{flagicon|USA}} [[Marita Redondo]]
| 6–1, 4–6, 6–1
|-
| style="background:#98fb98;"|Win
| 9–15
| May 1981
| [[WTA Doubles Championships|Tokyo]]
| Carpet (i)
| {{flagicon|USA}} Ann Kiyomura
| {{flagicon|USA}} [[Barbara Potter]] <br /> {{flagicon|USA}} [[Sharon Walsh]]
| 7–5, 6–2
|-
| style="background:#ffa07a;"|Loss
| 9–16
| May 1981
| [[WTA German Open|Berlin]]
| Clay
| {{flagicon|TCH}} [[Renáta Tomanová]]
| {{flagicon|USA}} [[Rosalyn Fairbank]] <br /> {{flagicon|RSA|1928}} [[Tanya Harford]]
| 3–6, 4–6
|-
| style="background:#98fb98;"|Win
| 10–16
| Jun 1981
| [[Surrey Grass Court Championships|Surbiton]]
| Grass
| {{flagicon|USA}} Ann Kiyomura
| {{flagicon|USA}} Billie Jean King <br /> {{flagicon|RSA|1928}} [[Ilana Kloss]]
| 6–1, 6–7, 6–1
|-
| style="background:#ffa07a;"|Loss
| 10–17
| Aug 1981
| [[U.S. Open Clay Courts|Indianapolis]]
| Clay
| {{flagicon|USA}} [[Paula Smith]]
| {{flagicon|USA}} [[JoAnne Russell]] <br /> {{flagicon|ROM|1965}} Virginia Ruzici
| 2–6, 2–6
|-
| style="background:#98fb98;"|Win
| 11–17
| Aug 1981
| [[Central Fidelity Banks International|Richmond]]
| Carpet (i)
| {{flagicon|USA}} Ann Kiyomura
| {{flagicon|USA}} [[Kathy Jordan]] <br /> {{flagicon|USA}} [[Anne Smith (tennis)|Anne Smith]]
| 4–6, 7–6, 6–4
|-
| style="background:#98fb98;"|Win
| 12–17
| Jan 1982
| [[Avon Championships of Cincinnati|Cincinnati]]
| Carpet (i)
| {{flagicon|USA}} Ann Kiyomura
| {{flagicon|USA}} Pam Shriver <br /> {{flagicon|USA}} Anne Smith
| 6–2, 7–6
|-
| style="background:#ffa07a;"|Loss
| 12–18
| Feb 1982
| [[Virginia Slims of Houston|Houston]]
| Carpet (i)
| {{flagicon|USA}} Sharon Walsh
| {{flagicon|USA}} Kathy Jordan <br /> {{flagicon|USA}} Pam Shriver
| 6–7<sup>(6–8)</sup>, 2–6
|}

==Performance timelines==
{{Performance key|short=yes|active=no}}

*<big><nowiki>" * "</nowiki></big> – ''Barker received a bye in the first round.''
* <big><nowiki>" ^ "</nowiki></big> – ''Barker withdrew prior to the match, which is not counted as a loss.''

===Singles===
{|class=wikitable style=text-align:center
|-
! Tournament !! [[1973 WTA Tour|1973]] !! [[1974 WTA Tour|1974]] !! [[1975 WTA Tour|1975]] !! [[1976 WTA Tour|1976]] !! colspan="2" | [[1977 WTA Tour|1977]] !! [[1978 WTA Tour|1978]] !! [[1979 WTA Tour|1979]] !! [[1980 WTA Tour|1980]] !! [[1981 WTA Tour|1981]] !! [[1982 WTA Tour|1982]] !! [[1983 Virginia Slims World Championship Series|1983]] !! [[1984 Virginia Slims World Championship Series|1984]] !! {{Tooltip|{{Tooltip|W–L|Win–loss}}|Match win–loss}} !! {{Tooltip|{{Tooltip|SR|Strike rate}}|Tournament strike rate}}
|-
| colspan=16 align=left | '''Grand Slam tournaments'''
|-
| style=background:#efefef align=left| [[Australian Open]]
| A
| style=background:#afeeee | [[1974 Australian Open – Women's singles|3R]]
| style=background:yellow | [[1975 Australian Open – Women's singles|SF]]
| style=background:#afeeee | [[1976 Australian Open – Women's singles|2R]]
| <small>(Jan)</small><br />A
| style=background:yellow | [[1977 Australian Open (December) – Women's singles|<small>(Dec)</small><br />SF]]
| style=background:#ffebcd | [[1978 Australian Open – Women's singles|QF]]
| A
| style=background:#afeeee | [[1980 Australian Open – Women's singles|3R]]
| style=background:#afeeee | [[1981 Australian Open – Women's singles|3R]]
| style=background:#afeeee | [[1982 Australian Open – Women's singles|1R]]
| A
| Q1
| style=background:#efefef | 16–8
| style=background:#efefef | 0 / 8
|-
| style=background:#efefef align=left| [[French Open]]
| A
| A
| style=background:#afeeee | [[1975 French Open – Women's singles|3R]]
| style=background:#0f0 | [[1976 French Open – Women's singles|'''W''']]
| colspan="2" | A
| A
| style=background:#afeeee | [[1979 French Open – Women's singles|2R]]
| A
| style=background:#afeeee | [[1981 French Open – Women's singles|1R]]
| A
| A
| style=background:#afeeee | [[1984 French Open – Women's singles|1R]]
| style=background:#efefef | 9–4
| style=background:#efefef | 1 / 5
|-
| style=background:#efefef align=left| [[The Championships, Wimbledon|Wimbledon]]
| style=background:#afeeee | [[1973 Wimbledon Championships – Women's singles|2R]]
| style=background:#afeeee | [[1974 Wimbledon Championships – Women's singles|1R]]
| style=background:#afeeee | [[1975 Wimbledon Championships – Women's singles|3R]]*
| style=background:#ffebcd | [[1976 Wimbledon Championships – Women's singles|QF]]
| colspan="2"  style=background:yellow | [[1977 Wimbledon Championships – Women's singles|SF]]*
| style=background:#afeeee | [[1978 Wimbledon Championships – Women's singles|4R]]
| style=background:#afeeee | [[1979 Wimbledon Championships – Women's singles|1R]]
| style=background:#afeeee | [[1980 Wimbledon Championships – Women's singles|2R]]*
| style=background:#afeeee | [[1981 Wimbledon Championships – Women's singles|3R]]
| style=background:#afeeee | [[1982 Wimbledon Championships – Women's singles|1R]]
| style=background:#afeeee | [[1983 Wimbledon Championships – Women's singles|1R]]
| style=background:#afeeee | [[1984 Wimbledon Championships – Women's singles|2R]]
| style=background:#efefef | 16–12
| style=background:#efefef | 0 / 12
|-
| style=background:#efefef align=left | [[US Open (tennis)|US Open]]
| A
| A
| style=background:#afeeee | [[1975 US Open – Women's singles|2R]]
| style=background:#afeeee | [[1976 US Open – Women's singles|4R]]*
| colspan="2"  style=background:#afeeee | [[1977 US Open – Women's singles|3R]]
| A
| style=background:#afeeee | [[1979 US Open – Women's singles|2R]]*
| A
| style=background:#afeeee | [[1981 US Open – Women's singles|2R]]
| A
| A
| style=background:#afeeee | [[1984 US Open – Women's singles|1R]]
| style=background:#efefef | 6–6
| style=background:#efefef | 0 / 6
|-
| colspan=16 align=left | '''Year-end championship'''
|-
| align=left | [[WTA Tour Championships|WTA Championships]]
| colspan=3 |Did not qualify
| style=background:##afeeee | [[1976 Virginia Slims Championships|F]]
| style=background:#thistle colspan=2 | [[1977 Virginia Slims Championships|F]]
| style=color:#ccc | DNQ
| style=background:#yellow |[[1979 Avon Championships|SF]]
| colspan=5 style=color:#ccc|Did not qualify
| style=background:#efefef | 9–5
| style=background:#efefef | 0 / 4
|-
! style=text-align:left|Win–loss
! 1–1
! 2–2
! 8–4
! 16–5
! colspan=2 | 12–4
! 5–2
! 4–5
! 2–2
! 5–4
! 0–2
! 0–1
! 1–3
! 56–35
! 1 / 35
|-
| align=left| '''Year-end ranking'''
| colspan=2 |N/A
| 19<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.wtatennis.com/SEWTATour-Archive/Rankings_Stats/Singles_Numeric_1975.pdf|title= 1975 year-end singles rankings|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20111109060701/http://www.wtatennis.com/SEWTATour-Archive/Rankings_Stats/Singles_Numeric_1975.pdf|access-date=31 December 2021|archive-date= 9 November 2011}}</ref>
| style=background:#eee8aa | 10<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.wtatennis.com/SEWTATour-Archive/Rankings_Stats/Singles_Numeric_1976.pdf|title= 1976 year-end singles rankings|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20111109052007/http://www.wtatennis.com/SEWTATour-Archive/Rankings_Stats/Singles_Numeric_1976.pdf|access-date=31 December 2021|archive-date= 9 November 2011}}</ref>
| colspan="2"  style=background:#eee8aa | 5<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.wtatennis.com/SEWTATour-Archive/Rankings_Stats/Singles_Numeric_1977.pdf|title= 1977 year-end singles rankings|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20111109031518/http://www.wtatennis.com/SEWTATour-Archive/Rankings_Stats/Singles_Numeric_1977.pdf|access-date=31 December 2021|archive-date= 9 November 2011}}</ref>
| 24<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.wtatennis.com/SEWTATour-Archive/Rankings_Stats/Singles_Numeric_1978.pdf|title= 1978 year-end singles rankings|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20111109005618/http://www.wtatennis.com/SEWTATour-Archive/Rankings_Stats/Singles_Numeric_1978.pdf|access-date=31 December 2021|archive-date= 9 November 2011}}</ref>
| bgcolor=eee8aa | 10<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.wtatennis.com/SEWTATour-Archive/Rankings_Stats/Singles_Numeric_1979.pdf|title=1979 year-end singles rankings|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111109051756/http://www.wtatennis.com/SEWTATour-Archive/Rankings_Stats/Singles_Numeric_1979.pdf|access-date=31 December 2021|archive-date=9 November 2011}}</ref>
|16<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.wtatennis.com/SEWTATour-Archive/Rankings_Stats/Singles_Numeric_1980.pdf|title= 1980 year-end singles rankings|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20111109031507/http://www.wtatennis.com/SEWTATour-Archive/Rankings_Stats/Singles_Numeric_1980.pdf|access-date=31 December 2021|archive-date= 9 November 2011}}</ref>
|14<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.wtatennis.com/SEWTATour-Archive/Rankings_Stats/Singles_Numeric_1981.pdf|title=1981 year-end singles rankings|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111109052033/http://www.wtatennis.com/SEWTATour-Archive/Rankings_Stats/Singles_Numeric_1981.pdf|access-date=31 December 2021|archive-date=9 November 2011}}</ref>
|62<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.wtatennis.com/SEWTATour-Archive/Rankings_Stats/Singles_Numeric_1982.pdf|title=1982 year-end singles rankings|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111109072324/http://www.wtatennis.com/SEWTATour-Archive/Rankings_Stats/Singles_Numeric_1982.pdf|access-date=31 December 2021|archive-date=9 November 2011}}</ref>
|57<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.wtatennis.com/SEWTATour-Archive/Rankings_Stats/Singles_Numeric_1983.pdf|title=1983 year-end singles rankings|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111109104436/http://www.wtatennis.com/SEWTATour-Archive/Rankings_Stats/Singles_Numeric_1983.pdf|access-date=31 December 2021|archive-date=9 November 2011}}</ref>
|155<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.wtatennis.com/SEWTATour-Archive/Rankings_Stats/Singles_Numeric_1984.pdf|title=1984 year-end singles rankings|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111109114708/http://www.wtatennis.com/SEWTATour-Archive/Rankings_Stats/Singles_Numeric_1984.pdf|access-date=31 December 2021|archive-date=9 November 2011}}</ref>
|}

===Doubles===
{| class=wikitable style=text-align:center
|-
! Tournament !! [[1974 WTA Tour|1974]] !! [[1975 WTA Tour|1975]] !! [[1976 WTA Tour|1976]] !! colspan="2" | [[1977 WTA Tour|1977]] !! [[1978 WTA Tour|1978]] !! [[1979 WTA Tour|1979]] !! [[1980 WTA Tour|1980]] !! [[1981 WTA Tour|1981]] !! [[1982 WTA Tour|1982]] !! [[1983 Virginia Slims World Championship Series|1983]] !! [[1984 Virginia Slims World Championship Series|1984]] !! {{Tooltip|{{Tooltip|W–L|Win–loss}}|Match win–loss}} !! {{Tooltip|{{Tooltip|SR|Strike rate}}|Tournament strike rate}}
|-
| bgcolor=EFEFEF align=left| [[Australian Open]]
| bgcolor=ffebcd | [[1974 Australian Open – Women's doubles|QF]]
| bgcolor=ffebcd | [[1975 Australian Open – Women's doubles|QF]]*
| bgcolor=ffebcd | [[1976 Australian Open – Women's doubles|QF]]*
| <small>(Jan)</small><br />A
| bgcolor=afeeee | [[1977 Australian Open (December) – Women's doubles|<small>(Dec)</small><br />1R]]
| bgcolor=afeeee | [[1978 Australian Open – Women's doubles|1R]]
| A
| bgcolor=yellow | [[1980 Australian Open – Women's doubles|SF]]
| bgcolor=yellow | [[1981 Australian Open – Women's doubles|SF]]
| bgcolor=afeeee | [[1982 Australian Open – Women's doubles|1R]]
| A
| bgcolor=afeeee | [[1984 Australian Open – Women's doubles|1R]]
| bgcolor=efefef | '''10–9'''
| bgcolor=efefef | '''0 / 9'''
|-
| bgcolor=EFEFEF align=left| [[French Open]]
| A
| bgcolor=ffebcd | [[1975 French Open – Women's doubles|QF]]*
| bgcolor=afeeee | [[1976 French Open – Women's singles|2R]]*
| colspan="2" | A
| A
| A
| A
| A
| A
| A
| bgcolor=afeeee | [[1984 French Open – Women's doubles|2R]]
| bgcolor=efefef | '''2–3'''
| bgcolor=efefef | '''0 / 3'''
|-
| bgcolor=EFEFEF align=left|[[The Championships, Wimbledon|Wimbledon]]
| bgcolor=afeeee | [[1974 Wimbledon Championships – Women's doubles|2R]]*
| bgcolor=ffebcd | [[1975 Wimbledon Championships – Women's doubles|QF]]*
| bgcolor=afeeee | [[1976 Wimbledon Championships – Women's doubles|1R]]
| colspan="2" bgcolor=afeeee | [[1977 Wimbledon Championships – Women's doubles|3R]]*
| bgcolor=yellow | [[1978 Wimbledon Championships – Women's doubles|SF]]*
| bgcolor=ffebcd | [[1979 Wimbledon Championships – Women's doubles|QF]]
| bgcolor=ffebcd | [[1980 Wimbledon Championships – Women's doubles|QF]]
| bgcolor=yellow | [[1981 Wimbledon Championships – Women's doubles|SF]]
| bgcolor=afeeee | [[1982 Wimbledon Championships – Women's doubles|2R]]*
| bgcolor=afeeee | [[1983 Wimbledon Championships – Women's doubles|1R]]
| A
| bgcolor=efefef | '''16–10'''
| bgcolor=efefef | '''0 / 10'''
|-
| bgcolor=EFEFEF align=left| [[US Open (tennis)|US Open]]
| A
| bgcolor=ffebcd | [[1975 US Open – Women's doubles|QF]]^
| bgcolor=ffebcd | [[1976 US Open – Women's doubles|QF]]
| colspan="2" | A
| A
| bgcolor=afeeee | [[1979 US Open – Women's doubles|1R]]
| A
| A
| A
| A
| bgcolor=afeeee | [[1984 US Open – Women's doubles|1R]]
| bgcolor=efefef | '''5–3'''
| bgcolor=efefef | '''0 / 4'''
|-
| colspan=16 align=left | '''Year-end championship'''
|-
| align=left | [[WTA Tour Championships|WTA Championships]]
| colspan=6 style=color:#ccc|Did not qualify
| bgcolor=thistle|[[1979 Avon Championships|F<br /><small>(W:1; L:1)</small>]]
| style=color:#ccc| DNQ
| bgcolor=yellow|[[1981 Avon Championships – Doubles|SF<br /><small>(W:0; L:1)</small>]]
| colspan=3 style=color:#ccc|Did not qualify
| bgcolor=efefef | '''1–2'''
| bgcolor=efefef | '''0 / 2'''
|-
! style=text-align:left|Win–loss
! 2–2
! 6–3
! 4–4
! colspan="2" | 1–2
! 3–2
! 4–3
! 6–2
! 7–3
! 0–2
! 0–1
! 1–3
! 33–25
! 0 / 26
|-
|align=left| Year-end ranking
|colspan=11|''N/A''
| 116<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.wtatennis.com/SEWTATour-Archive/Rankings_Stats/Doubles_Numeric_1984.pdf|title=1984 year-end doubles rankings|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111109051910/http://www.wtatennis.com/SEWTATour-Archive/Rankings_Stats/Doubles_Numeric_1984.pdf|access-date=31 December 2021|archive-date=9 November 2011}}</ref>
|}

===Mixed doubles===
{| class="wikitable"
|- style="background:#efefef;"
! Tournament !! 1974 !! 1975 !! 1976 !! colspan="2" | 1977 !! 1978 !! 1979 !! 1980 !! 1981 !! 1982 !! 1983 !! 1984 !! {{Tooltip|W–L|Match win–loss}} !! {{Tooltip|SR|Tournament strike rate}}
|-
| style="background:#EFEFEF;" | [[Australian Open]]
| style="text-align:center;" colspan="12"|Absent
| style="text-align:center; background:#efefef;" | '''0–0'''
| style="text-align:center; background:#efefef;" | '''0 / 0'''
|-
| style="background:#EFEFEF;" | [[French Open]]
| style="text-align:center;" colspan="2" | Absent
| style="text-align:center; background:yellow;" | [[1976 French Open – Mixed doubles|SF]]*^
| style="text-align:center;" colspan="9"|Absent
| style="text-align:center; background:#efefef;" | '''2–0'''
| style="text-align:center; background:#efefef;" | '''0 / 1'''
|-
| style="background:#EFEFEF;" | [[The Championships, Wimbledon|Wimbledon]]
| style="text-align:center;" colspan="5" | Absent
| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;" | [[1978 Wimbledon Championships – Mixed doubles|1R]]
| style="text-align:center;" colspan="4" | Absent
| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;" | [[1983 Wimbledon Championships – Mixed doubles|3R]]
| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;" | [[1984 Wimbledon Championships – Mixed doubles|2R]]
| style="text-align:center; background:#efefef;" | '''3–3'''
| style="text-align:center; background:#efefef;" | '''0 / 3'''
|-
| style="background:#EFEFEF;" | [[US Open (tennis)|US Open]]
| style="text-align:center;" colspan="12"|Absent
| style="text-align:center; background:#efefef;" | '''0–0'''
| style="text-align:center; background:#efefef;" | '''0 / 0'''
|-
! style=text-align:left|Win–loss
! 2–0
! 0–0
! 0–0
! colspan="2" | 0–0
! 0–1
! 0–0
! 0–0
! 0–0
! 0–0
! 2–1
! 1–1
! 5–3
! 0 / 4
|}

===Fed Cup===
{| class="wikitable" style="font-size:98%;"
|- style="background:#efefef;"
| colspan="9" | '''1974 Federation Cup'''
|-
!  Date !! Venue !! Surface !! Round !! Opponents !! Final match score !! Match !! Opponent !! Rubber score
|-
| {{nowrap|13–19 May}}<br />1974
| [[Naples]]
| Clay
| align="centre" | SF
| {{fed|AUS}}
| align="centre" bgcolor="#ffa07a" | 0–3
| Doubles<small> (with [[Virginia Wade]])</small>
| [[Evonne Goolagong Cawley|Goolagong]]/[[Janet Young (tennis)|Young]]
| bgcolor="#ffa07a" | 0–6, 2–6 (L)
|- style="background:#efefef;"
| colspan="9" | '''1975 Federation Cup'''
|-
| rowspan="3" | 5–11 May<br />1975
| rowspan="3" | [[Aix-en-Provence]]
| rowspan="3" | Clay
| rowspan="2" align="centre"|1R
| rowspan="2" | {{fed|AUT}}
| align="centre" bgcolor="#98fb98" rowspan="2" | 3–0
| Singles
| [[Sabine Bernegger]]
| bgcolor="#98fb98" | 6–3, 6–2 ('''W''')
|-
| Doubles<small> (with [[Glynis Coles]])</small>
| [[Sabine Bernegger|Bernegger]]/[[Veronika Buche|Buche]]
| bgcolor="#98fb98" | 6–3, 6–1 ('''W''')
|-
| align="centre"| QF
| {{fed|FRA}}
| align="centre" bgcolor="#ffa07a" | 1–2
| Singles
| [[Nathalie Fuchs]]
| bgcolor="#ffa07a" | 1–6, 6–1, 4–6 (L)
|- style="background:#efefef;"
| colspan="9" | '''1976 Federation Cup'''
|-
| rowspan="6" | 22–29 Aug<br />1976
| rowspan="6" | [[Philadelphia]], PA
| rowspan="6" | Carpet (I)
| rowspan="2" align="centre"|1R
| rowspan="2" | {{fed|FRA}}
| align="centre" bgcolor="#98fb98" rowspan="2" | 3–0
| Singles
| [[Nathalie Fuchs]]
| bgcolor="#98fb98" | 6–3, 6–0 ('''W''')
|-
| Doubles<small> (with [[Virginia Wade]])</small>
| [[Gail Benedetti|Benedetti]]/[[Rosy Darmon|Darmon]]
| bgcolor="#98fb98" | 6–3, 6–2 ('''W''')
|-
| rowspan="2" align="centre"|QF
| rowspan="2" | {{fed|RSA|1928}}
| align="centre" bgcolor="#98fb98" rowspan="2" | 2–1
| Singles
| [[Linky Boshoff]]
| bgcolor="#98fb98" | 6–1, 6–1 ('''W''')
|-
| Doubles<small> (with [[Michelle Tyler]])</small>
| [[Linky Boshoff|Boshoff]]/[[Ilana Kloss|Kloss]]
| bgcolor="#ffa07a" | 1–6, 4–6 (L)
|-
| rowspan="2" align="centre"|SF
| rowspan="2" | {{fed|AUS}}
| align="centre" bgcolor="#ffa07a" rowspan="2" | 0–3
| Singles
| [[Dianne Fromholtz]]
| bgcolor="#ffa07a" | 2–6, 6–7 (L)
|-
| Doubles<small> (with [[Virginia Wade]])</small>
| [[Evonne Goolagong Cawley|Cawley]]/[[Kerry Reid|Reid]]
| bgcolor="#ffa07a" | 1–6, 3–6 (L)
|- style="background:#efefef;"
| colspan="9" | '''1977 Federation Cup'''
|-
| rowspan="8" | 13–18 Jun<br />1977
| rowspan="8" | [[Eastbourne]]
| rowspan="8" | Grass
| rowspan="2" align="centre"|1R
| rowspan="2" | {{fed|DEN}}
| align="centre" bgcolor="#98fb98" rowspan="2" | 3–0
| Singles
| [[Dorte Ekner]]
| bgcolor="#98fb98" | 6–3, 6–1 ('''W''')
|-
| Doubles<small> (with [[Virginia Wade]])</small>
| [[Dorte Ekner|Ekner]]/[[Helle Sparre|Sparre]]
| bgcolor="#98fb98" | 6–2, 6–2 ('''W''')
|-
| rowspan="2" align="centre"|2R
| rowspan="2" | {{fed|KOR}}
| align="centre" bgcolor="#98fb98" rowspan="2" | 3–0
| Singles
| [[Choi Kyeong-Mi]]
| bgcolor="#98fb98" | 6–1, 6–3 ('''W''')
|-
| Doubles<small> (with [[Virginia Wade]])</small>
| [[Choi Kyeong-Mi|Choi]]/[[Lee Duk-Hee|Lee]]
| bgcolor="#98fb98" | 6–1, 6–0 ('''W''')
|-
| rowspan="2" align="centre"|QF
| rowspan="2" | {{fed|SWE}}
| align="centre" bgcolor="#98fb98" rowspan="2" | 3–0
| Singles
| [[Mimmi Wikstedt]]
| bgcolor="#98fb98" | 6–2, 6–0 ('''W''')
|-
| Doubles<small> (with [[Virginia Wade]])</small>
| [[Helena Anliot|Anliot]]/[[Mimmi Wikstedt|Wikstedt]]
| bgcolor="#98fb98" | 6–2, 5–7, 6–3 ('''W''')
|-
| rowspan="2" align="centre"|SF
| rowspan="2" | {{fed|AUS}}
| align="centre" bgcolor="#ffa07a" rowspan="2" | 1–2
| Singles
| [[Dianne Fromholtz]]
| bgcolor="#ffa07a" | 3–6, 4–6 (L)
|-
| Doubles<small> (with [[Virginia Wade]])</small>
| [[Kerry Reid|Reid]]/[[Wendy Turnbull|Turnbull]]
| bgcolor="#98fb98" | 6–1, 6–4 ('''W''')
|- style="background:#efefef;"
| colspan="9" | '''1978 Federation Cup'''
|-
| rowspan="5" | 27 Nov –<br />3 Dec<br />1978
| rowspan="5" | [[Melbourne]]
| rowspan="5" | Grass
| align="centre"|1R
| {{fed|ESP}}
| align="centre" bgcolor="#98fb98" | 3–0
| Singles
| [[Mónica Álvarez de Mon]]
| bgcolor="#98fb98" | 6–0, 10–8 ('''W''')
|-
| rowspan="2" align="centre"|2R
| rowspan="2" | {{fed|FRG}}
| align="centre" bgcolor="#98fb98" rowspan="2" | 2–1
| Singles
| [[Sylvia Hanika]]
| bgcolor="#ffa07a" | 3–6, 2–6 (L)
|-
| Doubles<small> (with [[Virginia Wade]])</small>
| [[Katja Ebbinghaus|Ebbinghaus]]/[[Sylvia Hanika|Hanika]]
| bgcolor="#98fb98" | 6–3, 6–0 ('''W''')
|-
| align="centre"| QF
| {{fed|TCH}}
| align="centre" bgcolor="#98fb98" | 2–1
| Doubles<small> (with [[Virginia Wade]])</small>
| [[Hana Mandlíková|Mandlíková]]/[[Renáta Tomanová|Tomanová]]
| bgcolor="#98fb98" | 8–6, 7–5 ('''W''')
|-
| align="centre"|SF
| {{fed|USA}}
| align="centre" bgcolor="#ffa07a" | 0–3
| Doubles<small> (with [[Anne Hobbs]])</small>
| [[Rosie Casals|Casals]]/[[Billie Jean King|King]]
| bgcolor="#ffa07a" | 6–1, 3–6, 4–6 (L)
|- style="background:#efefef;"
| colspan="9" | '''1979 Federation Cup'''
|-
| rowspan="5" | 30 Apr –<br />6 May<br />1979
| rowspan="5" | [[Madrid]]
| rowspan="5" | Clay
| rowspan="2" align="centre"|1R
| rowspan="2" | {{fed|NZL}}
| align="centre" bgcolor="#98fb98" rowspan="2" | 3–0
| Singles
| [[Chris Newton (tennis)|Chris Newton]]
| bgcolor="#98fb98" | 6–0, 6–0 ('''W''')
|-
| Doubles<small> (with [[Virginia Wade]])</small>
| [[Chris Newton (tennis)|Newton]]/[[Brenda Perry|Perry]]
| bgcolor="#98fb98" | 6–1, 6–1 ('''W''')
|-
| rowspan="2" align="centre"|2R
| rowspan="2" | {{fed|BEL}}
| align="centre" bgcolor="#98fb98" rowspan="2" | 3–0
| Singles
| [[Monique Van Haver]]
| bgcolor="#98fb98" | 6–3, 11–9 ('''W''')
|-
| Doubles<small> (with [[Virginia Wade]])</small>
| [[Michèle Gurdal|Gurdal]]/[[Monique Van Haver|Van Haver]]
| bgcolor="#98fb98" | 6–3, 6–0 ('''W''')
|-
| align="centre"| QF
| {{fed|TCH}}
| align="centre" bgcolor="#ffa07a" | 0–3
| Singles
| [[Hana Mandlíková]]
| bgcolor="#ffa07a" | 6–3, 6–8, 4–6 (L)
|- style="background:#efefef;"
| colspan="9" | '''1980 Federation Cup'''
|-
| rowspan="6" | 19–25 May<br />1980
| rowspan="6" | [[Berlin]]
| rowspan="6" | Clay
| rowspan="2" align="centre"|1R
| rowspan="2" | {{fed|ISR}}
| align="centre" bgcolor="#98fb98" rowspan="2" | 3–0
| Singles
| [[Paulina Peled]]
| bgcolor="#98fb98" | 4–6, 7–6, 6–1 ('''W''')
|-
| Doubles<small> (with [[Glynis Coles]])</small>
| [[Orly Bialistozky|Bialistozky]]/[[Paulina Peled|Peled]]
| bgcolor="#98fb98" | 6–2, 6–3 ('''W''')
|-
| rowspan="2" align="centre"|2R
| rowspan="2" | {{fed|ARG}}
| align="centre" bgcolor="#98fb98" rowspan="2" | 2–1
| Singles
| [[Adriana Villagrán-Reami]]
| bgcolor="#98fb98" | 5–7, 7–6, 6–2 ('''W''')
|-
| Doubles<small> (with [[Virginia Wade]])</small>
| [[Ivanna Madruga Osses|Madruga Osses]]/[[Adriana Villagrán-Reami|Villagrán-Reami]]
| bgcolor="#98fb98" | 5–7, 6–2, 6–4 ('''W''')
|-
| rowspan="2" align="centre"|QF
| rowspan="2" | {{fed|FRG}}
| align="centre" bgcolor="#ffa07a" rowspan="2" | 0–3
| Singles
| [[Bettina Bunge]]
| bgcolor="#ffa07a" | 2–6, 0–6 (L)
|-
| Doubles<small> (with [[Virginia Wade]])</small>
| [[Bettina Bunge|Bunge]]/[[Sylvia Hanika|Hanika]]
| bgcolor="#ffa07a" | 3–6, 3–6 (L)
|- style="background:#efefef;"
| colspan="9" | '''1981 Federation Cup'''
|-
| rowspan="8" | 9–15 Nov<br />1981
| rowspan="8" | Tokyo
| rowspan="8" | Clay
| align="centre"|1R
| {{fed|BEL}}
| align="centre" bgcolor="#98fb98" | 3–0
| Doubles<small> (with [[Jo Durie]])</small>
| [[Marion de Witte|de Witte]]/[[Marlene de Wouters|de Wouters]]
| bgcolor="#98fb98" | 6–3, 6–3 ('''W''')
|-
| rowspan="2" align="centre"|2R
| rowspan="2" | {{fed|FRA}}
| align="centre" bgcolor="#98fb98" rowspan="2" | 3–0
| Singles
| [[Corinne Vanier]]
| bgcolor="#98fb98" | 4–6, 6–2, 10–8 ('''W''')
|-
| Doubles<small> (with [[Virginia Wade]])</small>
| [[Sophie Amiach|Amiach]]/[[Catherine Tanvier|Tanvier]]
| bgcolor="#98fb98" | 5–7, 6–1, 6–2 ('''W''')
|-
| rowspan="2" align="centre"|QF
| rowspan="2" | {{fed|URS}}
| align="centre" bgcolor="#98fb98" rowspan="2" | 2–1
| Singles
| [[Elena Eliseenko]]
| bgcolor="#98fb98" | 4–6, 6–4, 6–4 ('''W''')
|-
| Doubles<small> (with [[Virginia Wade]])</small>
| [[Svetlana Cherneva|Cherneva]]/[[Olga Zaitseva (tennis)|Zaitseva]]
| bgcolor="#98fb98" | 6–3, 6–1 ('''W''')
|-
| rowspan="2" align="centre"|SF
| rowspan="2" | {{fed|AUS}}
| align="centre" bgcolor="#98fb98" rowspan="2" | 2–1
| Singles
| [[Wendy Turnbull]]
| bgcolor="#98fb98" | 7–6, 3–6, 6–2 ('''W''')
|-
| Doubles<small> (with [[Virginia Wade]])</small>
| [[Susan Leo|Leo]]/[[Wendy Turnbull|Turnbull]]
| bgcolor="#98fb98" | 7–6, 6–3 ('''W''')
|-
| align="centre"|F
| {{fed|USA}}
| align="centre" bgcolor="#ffa07a" | 0–3
| Singles
| [[Chris Evert]]
| bgcolor="#ffa07a" | 2–6, 1–6 (L)
|- style="background:#efefef;"
| colspan="9" | '''1982 Federation Cup'''
|-
| rowspan="3" | 19–25 Jul<br />1982
| rowspan="3" | [[Santa Clara, California|Santa Clara]]
| rowspan="3" | Hard
| align="centre"|1R
| colspan="5" align="centre"|BYE
|-
| align="centre"|2R
| {{fed|ISR}}
| align="centre" bgcolor="#98fb98" | 3–0
| Singles
| [[Orly Bialistozky]]
| bgcolor="#98fb98" | 6–1, 6–3 ('''W''')
|-
| align="centre"|QF
| {{fed|URS}}
| align="centre" bgcolor="#ffa07a" | 1–2
| Singles
| [[Hana Mandlíková]]
| bgcolor="#ffa07a" | 7–6, 6–7, 3–6 (L)
|}

==Broadcasting career==
[[File:SueBarkerWimbledon2016.jpg|thumb|right|Sue Barker interviewing [[Andy Murray]] at Wimbledon in 2016]]
After retiring as a tennis player, Barker became a commentator and sports reporter for Australia's [[Seven Network|Channel 7]] in 1985 before anchoring tennis coverage for [[British Sky Broadcasting]] from 1990 to 1993. In 1993, Barker joined the [[BBC]] and hosted its [[The Championships, Wimbledon|Wimbledon]] coverage as a regular guest on ''[[Today at Wimbledon]]'' with [[Harry Carpenter]]. She took over as host of ''Today at Wimbledon'' in 1994, and from 2000 until 2022, she anchored the two-week-long broadcast for the network.<ref name="Sue">{{cite news |title=Sue Barker |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/tv_and_radio/grandstand/811817.stm |work=BBC Sport |date=30 June 2000 |access-date=18 May 2007}}</ref>

Barker has branched out since joining the BBC, becoming one of their chief sports presenters. She was one of the presenters of ''[[Grandstand (BBC)|Grandstand]]'' and the presenter of the long-running sports [[quiz show]] ''[[A Question of Sport]]''<ref name="QoS" /> (''QoS'') since 1997, having succeeded [[David Coleman]]. She retired as ''QoS'' presenter following the BBC's decision to revamp the show, having recorded her last episode in September 2020.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://news.sky.com/story/barker-dawson-and-tufnell-to-leave-a-question-of-sport-in-show-shake-up-12070554|title=Barker, Dawson and Tufnell to leave A Question Of Sport in show shake-up|website=Sky News|access-date=31 December 2021}}</ref> She was a host of the annual [[BBC Sports Personality of the Year]] awards ceremony from 1994 to 2012 before stepping down in 2013.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/tv/news/a516438/sue-barker-steps-down-from-hosting-bbc-sports-personality-of-the-year.html |title=Sue Barker steps down from hosting BBC Sports Personality of the Year |date=19 September 2013 |work=[[Digital Spy]] |access-date=10 December 2013}}</ref>

Barker has hosted [[BBC Sport]]'s coverage of the Australian Open, the French Open, [[Queens Club Championships]], [[International Women's Open|Eastbourne]], the [[Davis Cup]], the [[ATP World Tour Finals]] and Wimbledon.

Other sporting events she has hosted have included the Grand National (2000–2007), the Derby (2001–2007), Racing at Ascot and Longchamp (1995–1999), [[Hennessy Gold Cup]] at [[Newbury, Berkshire|Newbury]], the Great North Run, [[World Athletics Championships]] and [[European Athletics Championships]] (1999–2009), [[BBC Sports Personality of the Year]] (1994–2012), [[Commonwealth Games]] (1994–2010), [[Summer Olympics]] (1996–2012) and [[Winter Olympics]] (1994–2010).

For the [[2000 Summer Olympics|Sydney 2000 Olympics]], Barker led the BBC's coverage of the games alongside [[Steve Rider]]. At the [[2004 Summer Olympics|Athens 2004 Olympics]], Barker again headed the BBC's coverage alongside Rider.<ref>{{Cite web |title=BBC - Press Office - The Olympics and Paralympics 2004 |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/pressreleases/stories/2004/07_july/06/olympics.shtml#:~:text=Steve%20Rider%20and%20Sue%20Barker,day's%20highlights%20in%20Olympics%20Today. |access-date=2025-05-01 |website=www.bbc.co.uk}}</ref> At the [[Beijing 2008|Beijing 2008 Games]], Barker fronted the day's evening action, as well as coverage of the Opening and Closing Ceremonies.<ref>{{Cite web |title=BBC - Press Office - 2008 Olympics press pack: Olympics coverage on BBC TV |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/pressreleases/stories/2008/06_june/19/olympics3.shtml |access-date=2025-05-01 |website=www.bbc.co.uk}}</ref> At the [[London 2012|London 2012 Games]], Barker presented coverage of events through the afternoon.<ref>{{Cite web |title=BBC London 2012 presenter line-up |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/latestnews/021211-bbc-2012-presenter-line-up |access-date=2025-05-01 |website=www.bbc.co.uk |language=en}}</ref> This was Barker's final time presenting the Summer Olympics. 

For the [[Salt Lake City 2002|Salt Lake City 2002 Winter Olympics]], Barker was one of the BBC's lead presenters.<ref>{{Cite web |title=BBC SPORT {{!}} Winter Olympics 2002 {{!}} BBC Coverage {{!}} BBC's complete coverage |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/winterolympics2002/low/english/bbc_coverage/newsid_1753000/1753474.stm |access-date=2025-05-01 |website=news.bbc.co.uk}}</ref> This was a role she took up again for the [[Turin 2006|Turin 2006 Games]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=BBC - Press Office - Winter Olympics 2006 press pack |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/pressreleases/stories/2006/01_january/10/olympics.shtml |access-date=2025-05-01 |website=www.bbc.co.uk}}</ref> For the [[Vancouver 2010|Vancouver 2010 Olympics]], Barker once again lead the BBC's coverage, as well as commentating on the figure skating alongside [[Robin Cousins]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=BBC - Press Office - Network TV Programme Information BBC Week 7 Winter Olympics 2010 |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/proginfo/tv/2010/wk7/olympics.shtml |access-date=2025-05-01 |website=www.bbc.co.uk |language=en-GB}}</ref> Barker did not present coverage at the [[Sochi 2014|Sochi 2014 Games]] but did commentate on the figure skating events once again.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Sochi 2014 Winter Olympic Games on the BBC |url=https://www.bbc.com/mediacentre/latestnews/2013/winter_olympics_2014 |access-date=2025-05-01 |website=www.bbc.com |language=en}}</ref>

At the [[Manchester 2002|Manchester 2002 Commonwealth Games]], Baker headed the BBC's coverage alongside Rider.<ref>{{Cite web |title=BBC SPORT {{!}} Commonwealth Games 2002 {{!}} BBC Coverage |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport3/commonwealthgames2002/hi/bbc_coverage/default.stm |access-date=2025-05-02 |website=news.bbc.co.uk}}</ref> At the [[Melbourne 2006|Melbourne 2006 Games]], Barker lead coverage again, alongside [[Hazel Irvine]] and [[Clare Balding]].<ref>{{Cite news |date=2006-03-01 |title=Melbourne coverage |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/commonwealth_games/4719492.stm |access-date=2025-05-02 |language=en-GB}}</ref> Barker again presented for the BBC at the [[Delhi 2010|Delhi 2010 Games]], which would be her final Commonwealth Games.<ref>{{Cite web |title=BBC - Press Office - Delhi 2010 Commonwealth Games on the BBC |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/pressreleases/stories/2010/09_september/17/commonwealth.shtml |access-date=2025-05-02 |website=www.bbc.co.uk}}</ref>

Barker provided commentary for the 1998 video game ''[[Actua Tennis]]'', along with fellow BBC broadcaster [[Barry Davies]].<ref>{{Cite web |author=I. G. N. Staff |date=1997-06-22 |title=E3: Grab Your Rackets! |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/1997/06/22/e3-grab-your-rackets |access-date=2022-08-27 |website=[[IGN]] |language=en}}</ref>

In June 1999, she co-presented coverage of [[Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex|Prince Edward]]'s wedding to [[Sophie, Countess of Wessex|Sophie Rhys-Jones]] at [[Windsor Castle|Windsor]] alongside [[Michael Buerk]]. Barker had introduced Rhys-Jones to [[Queen Elizabeth II]]'s youngest son at a charity function a few years earlier.

In 2008, Barker and the BBC extended her contract to cover the London [[2012 Summer Olympics]]. It was estimated to be worth £375,000 a year.<ref name=telegraph1>{{cite news |last=Clout |first=Laura |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/2274081/Sue-Barker-wins-BBC-contract-to-cover-2012-London-Olympics.html |title=Sue Barker wins BBC contract to cover 2012 London Olympics |work=The Daily Telegraph |location=London |date=9 July 2008 |access-date=29 December 2012}}</ref>

In July 2012, the [[Advertising Standards Authority (United Kingdom)|Advertising Standards Authority]] in the UK received over 40 complaints for a [[Go Compare]] advert featuring Barker who was shown firing a large rocket launcher at opera singer [[Gio Compario]] (Wynne Evans) in an attempt to kill off the face of the brand. A spokesperson for the ASA said: "Some people think it offensive especially at a time when children are watching. Others think it inappropriate when our security forces are coming under fire on a daily basis. As with all complaints, we are looking into the matter before deciding if we launch a full investigation."<ref>{{cite web |title=Sue Barker Go Compare rocket launcher advert gets complaints |url=http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/media/news/a391704/sue-barker-go-compare-rocket-launcher-advert-gets-complaints.html |work=Digital Spy |date=5 July 2012 |access-date=4 January 2012}}</ref>

Barker was appointed [[Member of the Order of the British Empire]] (MBE) in the [[2000 New Year Honours]] for services to sport and broadcasting,<ref>{{cite news |title=People's champions knighted |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sport/583942.stm |work=BBC News |date=31 December 1999 |access-date=1 July 2019}}</ref> [[Officer of the Order of the British Empire]] (OBE) in the [[2016 New Year Honours]] for services to broadcasting and charity<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=61450 |supp=y|page=N11|date=30 December 2015}}</ref> and [[Commander of the Order of the British Empire]] (CBE) in the [[2021 Birthday Honours]] for services to broadcasting and charity.<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=63377|supp=y|page=B8|date=12 June 2021}}</ref>

In September 2020, it was announced that Barker would step down from her role as host of BBC game show ''[[A Question of Sport]]'' after 24 years; she stated that she was "sad to say goodbye".<ref>{{cite news |title=Sue Barker leaving BBC's A Question of Sport after 24 years |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-54135771 |work=BBC News |date=13 September 2020 |access-date=8 July 2021}}</ref> Barker has since stated that she was dismissed from the show rather than leaving by choice. She alleges that she was asked to put her name to an untrue pre-prepared statement claiming she left of her own accord when this was not the case. Barker accepted the BBC's decision to replace her, which she claimed was because they wished to "refresh" the show. However, she criticised the BBC's handling of the matter, describing this as "insulting" and saying that she felt "slightly damaged" by the experience.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2022-09-30 |title=Sue Barker: BBC could have handled my Question of Sport exit better |language=en-GB |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-63086869 |access-date=2023-02-19}}</ref>

On 9 June 2022, Barker announced she would be stepping down from BBC coverage of the Wimbledon tennis championship after the 2022 finals, which she had covered since 1993.<ref>{{cite news |title=Sue Barker to step down as Wimbledon presenter after 2022 tournament |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/tennis/61751601 |work=BBC News |date=9 June 2022}}</ref>

==Personal life==
At 17 years of age, Barker moved to California.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=BBC Radio 4 - Desert Island Discs, Sue Barker, presenter and tennis player |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m001c678 |access-date=2022-09-24 |website=BBC |language=en-GB}}</ref> In 1978, she broke off an engagement with Australian tennis player [[Syd Ball]]. In an interview the following year, she said: "I realised that Syd wasn't the answer. Underneath, I wasn't happy and I certainly wasn't ready for marriage. I wasn't fair to him or myself."<ref name="eveningtimes1">{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=uu9AAAAAIBAJ&pg=5326,19258&dq=sue+barker+greg+norman&hl=en |title=A model beauty – That's Sweet Sue |newspaper=[[Evening Times]] |date=1 September 1979 |page=3}}</ref> After her engagement was broken off, she had a brief relationship with golfer [[Greg Norman]].<ref name="eveningtimes1" />

In 1980, Barker was temporarily blinded in her right eye after a large dog in Spain jumped up and bit her. She lost the sight in her eye for five hours and feared that the dog attack would force her to stop playing tennis, which she said "broke her heart".<ref>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=KLYlAAAAIBAJ&pg=1211,1577306&dq=sue+barker+tennis&hl=en |title=Sue Barker puts tennis in its place |newspaper=[[The Miami News]] |date=6 October 1982}}</ref>

In 1982, Barker met singer [[Cliff Richard]]. Their four-month-long<ref name=":0" /> romance attracted considerable media attention after Richard flew to Denmark to watch her play in a tennis match and they were photographed cuddling and holding hands at Wimbledon.<ref>{{cite book |last=Turner |first=Steve |author-link=Steve Turner (writer) |title=Cliff Richard: The Biography |year=2008 |publisher=Lion |location=Oxford |isbn=9780745952796 |page=288 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=He0S6tFOGPUC&pg=PA288}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last=Turner |first=Steve |author-link=Steve Turner (writer) |title=Cliff Richard: The Biography |year=2008 |publisher=Lion |location=Oxford |isbn=9780745952796 |page=289 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=He0S6tFOGPUC&pg=PA289}}</ref> In 1988, Richard said of his former romance with Barker: "We were closer than just friends. She's the only person with whom I've had that sort of relationship." He said that one of the things which made up his mind not to marry her was when she got upset because he hadn't told her who he was seeing that day: "I suddenly realised that in a marriage you don't live for yourself."<ref name=eveningtimes2>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=HtpAAAAAIBAJ&pg=2828,2318082&dq=my+lost+love+cliff&hl=en |title=My lost love, by bachelor boy Cliff |newspaper=[[Evening Times]] |date=9 November 1988}}</ref>And in 2008, that he had come close to asking her to marry him: "I seriously contemplated asking her to marry me, but in the end I realised that I didn't love her quite enough to commit the rest of my life to her."<ref>{{cite news |last=Farmer |first=Ben |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/celebritynews/2680292/Sir-Cliff-Richard-talks-of-ex-priest-companion.html |title=Sir Cliff Richard talks of ex-priest companion |newspaper=The Daily Telegraph |location=London |date=4 September 2008 |access-date=13 September 2012}}</ref>

In 1986 some time after Barker's romance with Richard had ended and she began a brief relationship with tennis player [[Steve Shaw (tennis)|Stephen Shaw]], Richard said that he was still a friend of Barker: "We have a mutual respect for each other and that means a lot to me."<ref>{{cite news |title=Cliff Richard, the pop world's greatest survivor, says.... |first=Sally |last=Pearce |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=KAROAAAAIBAJ&pg=6947,2859432&dq=cliff+richard+survivor&hl=en |newspaper=New Straits Times |date=12 January 1986 |access-date=7 July 2013}}</ref>

In 1988, Barker married landscape gardener and former policeman Lance Tankard.<ref name=telegraph1 /><ref name=eveningtimes2 /> They live in the Cotswolds village of [[Stanton, Gloucestershire]], after moving from a mansion on a 26-acre estate in [[Chiddingfold]], Surrey.<ref>{{cite web  |title=Who's moving homes; Sue Barker |url=https://www.questia.com/read/1G1-175481393/who-s-moving-homes-gossip-sue-barker-leona-lewisn |work=London Evening Standard |date=27 February 2008 |access-date=25 May 2017}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=CHRIS EVANS EXCLUSIVE: DJ BUYS HIS OWN PUB|url=https://www.mirror.co.uk/3am/celebrity-news/chris-evans-exclusive-dj-buys-623615|website=The Mirror|date=2006-05-03|access-date=2025-11-30|language=en|last=Mirror.co.uk}}</ref>

In an interview in 1999, Barker said that during her tennis career she was approached by a lesbian tennis player in the locker room and touched "in a way that didn't feel right". Barker refused to name the female tennis player involved.<ref name=Indp1082723 />

In September 2022, Barker featured on ''[[Desert Island Discs]]'';<ref>{{Cite web |title=BBC Radio 4 - Desert Island Discs - Eight things we learned from Sue Barker's Desert Island Discs |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/47vTWj3Qrs4zRLRGSmRBbhw/eight-things-we-learned-from-sue-barkers-desert-island-discs |access-date=2022-09-24 |website=BBC |language=en-GB}}</ref> Her favourite chosen track was "[[Harry Hippie]]" by [[Bobby Womack]], with her choice of book and luxury item given as ''All In'' by Billie Jean King and some New Zealand [[sauvignon blanc]] wine respectively.

Barker's autobiography ''Calling the Shots'' was published in September 2022.<ref>{{cite web |title=Sue Barker's autobiography netted by Ebury Spotlight |url=https://www.thebookseller.com/rights/sue-barkers-autobiography-netted-by-ebury-spotlight |website=[[The Bookseller]] |access-date=23 November 2022 |date=16 June 2022}}</ref>

==See also==
* [[Tennis performance timeline comparison (women)|Table of all female tennis players who reached at least one Grand Slam final]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

== External links ==
{{commons category}}
* {{WTA}}
* {{ITF profile}}
* {{Fed Cup player}}
* {{IMDb name|id=0054996|name=Sue Barker}}

{{s-start}}
{{s-media}}
{{s-bef|before=[[David Coleman]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=Regular host of ''[[Question of Sport]]''|years=1997–2021}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Paddy McGuinness]]}}
{{s-ach}}
{{Succession box
| before = [[Mark Nicholas]]
| title = [[Royal Television Society|RTS Television Sport Awards]]<br />Best Sports Presenter
| after = [[Gary Lineker]]
| years = 2001
}}
{{s-end}}

{{Australian Open girls' singles champions}}
{{French Open women's singles champions}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Barker, Sue}}
[[Category:1956 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Australian Open (tennis) junior champions]]
[[Category:BBC sports presenters and reporters]]
[[Category:English autobiographers]]
[[Category:English female tennis players]]
[[Category:British female tennis players]]
[[Category:English game show hosts]]
[[Category:English sports broadcasters]]
[[Category:English television presenters]]
[[Category:French Open champions]]
[[Category:Grand Slam (tennis) champions in girls' singles]]
[[Category:Grand Slam (tennis) champions in women's singles]]
[[Category:Commanders of the Order of the British Empire]]
[[Category:Sportspeople from Paignton]]
[[Category:Tennis players from Devon]]
[[Category:Tennis commentators]]
[[Category:English women autobiographers]]
[[Category:20th-century English sportswomen]]
[[Category:British expatriate tennis players in the United States]]
[[Category:English expatriate sportspeople in the United States]]