Sue Barker has mentioned she wished to depart Wimbledon on her “personal phrases” fairly than be “pushed out the door”, as she referenced her exit from A Query Of Sport after 24 years.
The former skilled tennis participant, 66, bid a tearful farewell to Wimbledon this yr after 30 years of presenting protection of the tennis occasion for the BBC.
It got here two years after the broadcaster introduced Paddy McGuinness could be taking up her position as host of A Query Of Sport, alongside the present’s workforce captains Matt Dawson and Phil Tufnell who have been changed by Sam Quek and Ugo Monye.
Barker advised Lauren Laverne on Desert Island Discs: “Matt and Tuffers, we're like greatest mates, we had such a bond and we completely cherished that programme.
“We have been devastated when it got here to an finish however all good issues should come to an finish. It wasn’t our selection and we type of knew it was coming.
“The way in which it was dealt with made me take into consideration Wimbledon and the way in which I wished to stroll away by myself phrases fairly than be pushed out the door.
“To be taken right into a room after 24 years and be advised ‘We don’t need you anymore’, I simply want they dealt with the tip just a little higher.”
In July, Barker introduced her retirement from presenting Wimbledon protection.
“I knew it was going to be unhappy, I really like the job, I really like Wimbledon, it's in my DNA,” Barker mentioned.
“I really like the folks I work with much more however you simply have to select when the time is correct to go and I simply felt that I might stroll out with my head held excessive having had 30 superb years.”
Devon-born Barker selected the soundtrack to Wimbledon’s Parade Of Champions 2022 as her first desert island disc.
Struggling to carry again her tears, she advised Laverne: “It was so fantastic and on the finish of it, John McEnroe determined to say ‘nicely carried out’ to me for 30 years and the crowds response went on and on and for them to present me that ovation, I assumed ‘job carried out’.
“It was actually actually emotional. I don’t know the way I held it collectively on the market.”
To mark Barker stepping down from her position, commentator and former Wimbledon champion McEnroe launched a movie of Barker’s highlights, that includes many well-known faces.
Talking concerning the tributes, which noticed her idol Billie Jean King name her the best of all time, Barker mentioned: “I by no means anticipated the tributes from my fellow gamers from my period and from the present period.
“It was shocking, embarrassing, emotional, it was the whole lot.”
Speaking about SW19 persevering with to be part of her life, she added: “I've already texted Heather Watson, fantastic woman, and I mentioned I might be sitting courtside on your match subsequent yr.
“I'm going to be screaming on the facet telling her all kinds of issues.”