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Sue Barker (born April 19 1956, in Paignton,
Devon, England) is a television presenter and
former professional tennis player from the United
Kingdom. During her tennis career she won the
women's singles title at the French Open and
reached a career-high singles ranking of World No.
3. She is now one of the chief sports presenters
at the BBC.

Barker's tennis career began in 1973, when she won
her first top-level singles title at Eastbourne.
She followed this up with three further titles in
1974. Barker made her first significant
breakthrough at a Grand Slam (tennis)|Grand Slam
tournament in 1975 at the Australian Open, where
she reached the semi-finals. Barker's forehand was
her strongest weapon, considered by many to be the
most powerful on the women's tour at the time. 

In 1976, Barker won the French Open, defeating
Renata Tomanova of Czechoslovakia in the final in
three sets 6-2, 0-6, 6-2.

Barker's good form continued in 1977 when she won
three singles titles, reached the semi-finals at
both Wimbledon Championships|Wimbledon and the
Australian Open, and upset Martina Navratilova to
reach the WTA Tour Championships final where she
lost in three sets to Chris Evert.

After an injury-plagued 1978, during which her
ranking dropped to World No. 24, Barker returned
to form again in 1979, winning four singles titles
and reaching five other finals. She was named the
tour's 'Comeback Player of the Year' by her fellow
professionals. 

Barker remained solid, if not spectacular, in 1980
and 1981. She reached two finals in 1980 and won
the last singles title of her career at Brighton
in 1981, finishing the year ranked No. 16. She won
her last doubles title in 1982 at Cincinnati. The
next few years were disappointing, however, and
Barker played her last professional match in 1984.

As well as defeating Chris Evert and Martina
Navratilova (three times), Barker also posted wins
over other greats of the game including Billie
Jean King, Evonne Goolagong, Tracy Austin,
Virginia Wade, Maria Bueno, Rosie Casals and Pam
Shriver. She won a total of 15 singles titles and
16 doubles titles.

In her private life, Barker was romantically
linked with both the singer Cliff Richard and the
golfer Greg Norman. She is now married to
policeman Lance Tankard. 

On retiring from tennis, she became a commentator
and sports reporter for Australia's Seven
Network|Channel 7 in 1985, before going on to
anchor tennis coverage for British Sky
Broadcasting in 1990. In 1993, Barker joined the
Wimbledon coverage on the BBC, and now anchors the
two-week long broadcast for the network. One of
the annual features of the coverage sees Barker
reminiscing with former rivals Navratilova, Evert,
Shriver and Austin during Wimbledon's famous rain
delays. 

Barker has branched out since joining the BBC,
becoming one of their chief sports presenters and
she is currently the presenter of the popular
sports quiz show, A Question Of Sport.

==External links==
*
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/tv_and_radio/grand
stand/811817.stm BBC Presenter Profile
* wta|id=20172|name=Sue Barker