Susan Barker (born 19 April 1956) is a British former professional tennis player and television presenter. Barker won 15 WTA Tour-level singles titles, including a major at the 1976 French Open. She reached a career-high singles ranking of world no. 3.
Barker started working for the BBC as a tennis presenter in 1993 and, the following year, began to present coverage of the Wimbledon tennis championships; she held this role until 2022. In addition, Barker fronted coverage of other major sporting occasions and sports for the BBC, including Olympic and Commonwealth Games, athletics and horse racing. Barker is also a former presenter of A Question of Sport, Grandstand and BBC Sports Personality of the Year.
Early life Barker was born on 19 April 1956, grew up in Paignton, Devon, and attended The Marist Convent School, Paignton, a convent school. She is the youngest of three children, with an older brother and sister. 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.
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".
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.
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. Signed by Mark McCormack's 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.
In 1973 and 1974, Barker 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 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. 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.
In 1977 Barker won two singles titles in San Francisco and Dallas. She beat Martina Navratilova to reach the 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 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.
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.
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. 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."
Major finals
Grand Slam finals
Singles (1 title) ResultYearChampionshipSurfaceOpponentScore Win 1976 French Open Clay Renáta Tomanová 6–2, 0–6, 6–2
Year-end championships finals
Singles (1 runner–up) ResultYearChampionshipSurfaceOpponentScore Loss 1977 Virginia Slims Championships Carpet (i) Chris Evert 6–2, 1–6, 1–6
Doubles (1 runner–up) ResultYearChampionship SurfacePartnerOpponentsScore Loss 1979 Avon Championships Carpet (i) Ann Kiyomura Françoise Dürr Betty Stöve 6–7(1–7), 6–7(3–7)
WTA Tour finals
Singles: 31 (15–16) Winner – Legend Grand Slam tournaments (1–0) WTA Tour Championships (0–1) Virginia Slims, Avon, Other (14–15) Titles by surface Hard (0–1) Grass (6–6) Clay (5–1) Carpet (4–8) ResultW-LDateTournamentSurfaceOpponentScoreWin 1–0 May 1974 Surbiton, UK Grass Sue Mappin 6–2, 7–5Loss 1–1 Jun 1974 Chichester, UK Grass Paulina Peisachov 2–6, 2–6Win 2–1 Jul 1974 Båstad, Sweden Clay Marijke Jansen 6–1, 7–5Win 3–1 Jul 1975 Båstad, Sweden Clay Helga Masthoff 6–4, 6–0Win 4–1 Jul 1975 Kitzbühel, Austria Clay Pam Teeguarden 6–4, 6–4Loss 4–2 Nov 1975 Paris, France Carpet (i) Virginia Wade 1–6, 7–6, 7–9Win 5–2 Dec 1975 Adelaide, Australia Grass Helga Masthoff 6–5, ret.Loss 5–3 Dec 1975 Sydney, Australia Grass Evonne Goolagong 2–6, 4–6Win 6–3 Jan 1975 Auckland, New Zealand Grass Helga Masthoff 6–2, 6–1Loss 6–4 May 1976 Bournemouth, UK Clay Helga Masthoff 7–5, 3–6, 3–6Win 7–4 May 1976 Hamburg, West Germany Clay Renáta Tomanová 6–3, 6–1Win 8–4 May 1976 French Open Clay Renáta Tomanová 6–2, 0–6, 6–2Loss 8–5 Nov 1976 Tokyo, Japan Carpet (i) Chris Evert 2–6, 6–7Loss 8–6 Dec 1976 Melbourne, Australia Grass Margaret Court 2–6, 2–6Loss 8–7 Jan 1977 Houston, US Carpet (i) Martina Navratilova 6–7(3–7), 5–7Loss 8–8 Jan 1977 Minneapolis, US Carpet (i) Martina Navratilova 0–6, 1–6Loss 8–9 Feb 1977 Detroit, US Carpet (i) Martina Navratilova 4–6, 4–6Win 9–9 Feb 1977 San Francisco, US Carpet (i) Virginia Wade 6–3, 6–4Win 10–9 Mar 1977 Dallas, US Carpet (i) Terry Holladay 6–1, 7–6(7–4)Loss 10–10 Mar 1977 VS Championships, US Carpet (i) Chris Evert 6–2, 1–6, 1–6Loss 10–11 Dec 1977 Sydney, Australia Grass Evonne Goolagong 2–6, 3–6Win 11–11 Nov 1978 Brisbane, Australia Grass Chris O'Neil 6–1, 6–3Loss 11–12 Mar 1979 Boston, US Carpet (i) Dianne Fromholtz 2–6, 6–7(4–7)Loss 11–13 Mar 1979 Carlsbad , US Hard Kerry Reid 6–7, 6–3, 2–6Win 12–13 Jun 1979 Manchester, UK Grass Anne Hobbs 7–5, 4–6, 6–0Loss 12–14 Jun 1979 Chichester, UK Grass Evonne Goolagong Cawley 1–6, 4–6Win 13–14 Sep 1979 Pittsburgh, US Carpet (i) Renée Richards 6–3, 6–1Win 14–14 Dec 1979 Sydney, Australia Grass Rosalyn Fairbank 6–0, 7–5Loss 14–15 Dec 1980 Adelaide, Australia Grass Hana Mandlíková 1–6, 4–6Loss 14–16 Aug 1981 Richmond, US Carpet (i) Mary-Lou Piatek 4–6, 1–6Win 15–16 Oct 1981 Brighton, UK Carpet (i) Mima Jaušovec 4–6, 6–1, 6–1
Doubles: 30 (12–18) Winner – Legend Grand Slam tournaments (0–0) WTA Tour Championships (0–1) Virginia Slims, Avon, Other (12–17) Titles by surface Hard (0–0) Grass (2–4) Clay (2–4) Carpet (8–10) ResultW-LDateTournamentSurfacePartnerOpponentsScoreLoss 0–1 May 1975 Rome Clay Glynis Coles Chris Evert Martina Navratilova 1–6, 2–6Win 1–1 Jul 1975 Kitzbühel Clay Pam Teeguarden Fiorella Bonicelli Raquel Giscafré 6–1, 6–3Win 2–1 Dec 1975 Adelaide Grass Michelle Tyler Kym Ruddell Janet Young 7–5, 6–3Loss 2–2 Dec 1975 Perth Grass Michelle Tyler Christine Matison Lesley Bowrey 6–7, 3–6Loss 2–3 Aug 1976 Toronto Clay Pam Teeguarden Cynthia Doerner Janet Newberry 7–6, 3–6, 1–6Win 3–3 Oct 1976 Hilton Head Island Clay Evonne Goolagong Martina Navratilova Virginia Wade 4–6, 6–4, 3–6Win 4–3 Nov 1976 Tokyo Carpet (i) Ann Kiyomura Rosie Casals Françoise Dürr 4–6, 6–3, 6–1Loss 4–4 Jan 1977 Houston Carpet (i) Ann Kiyomura Martina Navratilova Betty Stöve 6–4, 2–6, 1–6Loss 4–5 Feb 1977 San Francisco Carpet (i) Ann Kiyomura Kerry Reid Greer Stevens 3–6, 1–6Loss 4–6 Feb 1979 Seattle Carpet (i) Ann Kiyomura Françoise Dürr Betty Stöve 6–7(4–7), 6–4, 4–6Loss 4–7 Feb 1979 Detroit Carpet (i) Ann Kiyomura Betty Stöve Wendy Turnbull 4–6, 6–7(5–7)Loss 4–8 Mar 1979 Boston Carpet (i) Ann Kiyomura Kerry Reid Wendy Turnbull 4–6, 2–6Loss 4–9 Mar 1979 Avon Championships Carpet (i) Ann Kiyomura Françoise Dürr Betty Stöve 6–7, 6–7Loss 4–10 Apr 1979 Tokyo Carpet (i) Ann Kiyomura Françoise Dürr Betty Stöve 5–7, 6–7Win 5–10 Sep 1979 Pittsburgh Carpet (i) Candy Reynolds Bunny Bruning Jane Stratton 6–3, 6–2Loss 5–11 Dec 1979 Sydney Grass Pam Shriver Billie Jean King Wendy Turnbull 5–7, 4–6Loss 5–12 Dec 1979 Adelaide Grass Pam Shriver Hana Mandlíková Virginia Ruzici 1–6, 6–3, 2–6Win 6–12 Feb 1980 Oakland Carpet (i) Ann Kiyomura Greer Stevens Virginia Wade 6–0, 6–4Loss 6–13 Mar 1980 Tokyo Carpet (i) Ann Kiyomura Billie Jean King Martina Navratilova 5–7, 3–6Loss 6–14 Dec 1980 Adelaide Grass Sharon Walsh Pam Shriver Betty Stöve 4–6, 3–6Win 7–14 Feb 1981 Houston Carpet (i) Ann Kiyomura Regina Maršíková Mary-Lou Piatek 5–7, 6–3, 6–4Loss 7–15 Feb 1981 Seattle Carpet (i) Ann Kiyomura Rosie Casals Wendy Turnbull 4–6, 1–6Win 8–15 Mar 1981 Los Angeles Carpet (i) Ann Kiyomura Peanut Louie Marita Redondo 6–1, 4–6, 6–1Win 9–15 May 1981 Tokyo Carpet (i) Ann Kiyomura Barbara Potter Sharon Walsh 7–5, 6–2Loss 9–16 May 1981 Berlin Clay Renáta Tomanová Rosalyn Fairbank Tanya Harford 3–6, 4–6Win 10–16 Jun 1981 Surbiton Grass Ann Kiyomura Billie Jean King Ilana Kloss 6–1, 6–7, 6–1Loss 10–17 Aug 1981 Indianapolis Clay Paula Smith JoAnne Russell Virginia Ruzici 2–6, 2–6Win 11–17 Aug 1981 Richmond Carpet (i) Ann Kiyomura Kathy Jordan Anne Smith 4–6, 7–6, 6–4Win 12–17 Jan 1982 Cincinnati Carpet (i) Ann Kiyomura Pam Shriver Anne Smith 6–2, 7–6Loss 12–18 Feb 1982 Houston Carpet (i) Sharon Walsh Kathy Jordan Pam Shriver 6–7(6–8), 2–6
Performance timelines
" * " – Barker received a bye in the first round. " ^ " – Barker withdrew prior to the match, which is not counted as a loss.
Singles Tournament 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 Grand Slam tournaments Australian Open A 3R SF 2R (Jan)A (Dec)SF QF A 3R 3R 1R A Q1 16–8 0 / 8 French Open A A 3R W A A 2R A 1R A A 1R 9–4 1 / 5 Wimbledon 2R 1R 3R* QF SF* 4R 1R 2R* 3R 1R 1R 2R 16–12 0 / 12 US Open A A 2R 4R* 3R A 2R* A 2R A A 1R 6–6 0 / 6 Year-end championship WTA ChampionshipsDid not qualify F F DNQSFDid not qualify 9–5 0 / 4Win–loss 1–1 2–2 8–4 16–5 12–4 5–2 4–5 2–2 5–4 0–2 0–1 1–3 56–35 1 / 35 Year-end rankingN/A 19 10 5 24 1016146257155
Doubles Tournament 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 Australian Open QF QF* QF* (Jan)A (Dec)1R 1R A SF SF 1R A 1R 10–9 0 / 9 French Open A QF* 2R* A A A A A A A 2R 2–3 0 / 3Wimbledon 2R* QF* 1R 3R* SF* QF QF SF 2R* 1R A 16–10 0 / 10 US Open A QF^ QF A A 1R A A A A 1R 5–3 0 / 4 Year-end championship WTA ChampionshipsDid not qualifyF(W:1; L:1) DNQSF(W:0; L:1)Did not qualify 1–2 0 / 2Win–loss 2–2 6–3 4–4 1–2 3–2 4–3 6–2 7–3 0–2 0–1 1–3 33–25 0 / 26 Year-end rankingN/A 116
Mixed doubles Tournament 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 Australian OpenAbsent 0–0 0 / 0 French Open Absent SF*^Absent 2–0 0 / 1 Wimbledon Absent 1R Absent 3R 2R 3–3 0 / 3 US OpenAbsent 0–0 0 / 0Win–loss 2–0 0–0 0–0 0–0 0–1 0–0 0–0 0–0 0–0 2–1 1–1 5–3 0 / 4
Fed Cup