Tennis fans missing Sue Barker already as BBC kick-off Wimbledon coverage with new-look team
TENNIS fans are already missing Sue Barker as the BBC kick-off their Wimbledon coverage with a new-look team.
Barker left her £189,999-a-year post last year when she announced her TV retirement.
And replacing the former tennis champion is ex-women’s cricketer Isa Guha and Clare Balding.
Guha got straight into the action as she presented day one of Wimbeldon, but some will take time to get used to the shakeup.
One said: “I miss Sue Barker already.”
Another agreed: “Anyone else already missing Sue Barker?”
One added: “I’m already missing Sue Barker.”
Another commented: “Just realised no Sue Barker this year.”
Even tennis legend John McEnroe admitted he will have to adapt to watching on without Barker.
McEnroe said: “Yeah, that’s going to be a bummer. Sue is a legend. She was incredible at what she did, so it’s going to be a void.
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“It’s like when [Bjorn] Borg didn’t play. For us, it was a huge thing.
“So especially since I’ve been doing this, the other side, the commentary side, for as long as I have been doing it with her, she just makes it easier for everyone around her.
“And she did that for 25 years or something. So it’s a tough act to follow.
“The old cliché [is] all good things come to an end. She decided that this was enough, go out I guess on a high.
“And God bless her. Hopefully, she’ll come by and say hello.”
Fast-medium bowler Guha – who retired from international cricket in 2012 – has worked for ITV and Sky Sports in the past.
Last year she joined Barker in presenting Wimbledon and will now share the role with Balding as well as Qasa Alom.
And although fans missed Barker, they were full of praise for Guha.
One said: “Well done on getting role as Wimbledon presenter – will be hearing you a lot this summer.”