Ally McCoist has paid tribute to BBC tennis stalwart Sue Barker, after she called time on her broadcasting career following Sunday’s men’s Wimbledon final.
Barker bowed out after 30 years of covering the famous tournament after Novak Djokovic defeated Nick Kyrgios 3-1. An emotional Barker received a standing ovation from the Centre Court crowd on Sunday, as she came to the end of her very final broadcast.
The former tennis star has enjoyed a hugely successful presenting career, and has been the face of British tennis TV for three decades. The 1976 French Open champion also presented hit BBC Sport gameshow Question of Sport for 24 years, before calling time on her role in the show in 2020.
One of her former Question of Sport colleagues McCoist has led the tributes of the great broadcaster after appearing on TalkSport on Monday. He said: “She is the best, she really is. She is the greatest. The fact of the matter is - you have probably read some of the quotes this morning - from the general public obviously, who absolutely adore her - as they should.
“She has been absolutely tremendous, first class. A great broadcaster and she obviously knows her stuff, but when you get people like [Roger] Federer, Billie Jean King, all these guys paying tribute - as they should as well. It will mean as much to her getting the tributes from people like that as it would from the general public.”
Describing Barker as ‘part of the family’ to the British public, the Scot added: “She is one of these broadcasters where you watch her on the television - and you will know what I mean here - you grow up with her, and it is as if she is part of the family, it is as if she is sitting in the living room with you. That is the biggest compliment you could pay her, she is just brilliant."
Barker herself addressed her departure on her final appearance on Sunday, describing the opportunity to cover the famous tournament for so long as an ‘absolute privilege’. The 66-year-old commented: “It's been an absolute privilege - I've loved it, 30 amazing years, thank you.
"I'll miss the job, I wish I had the next 30 years because I love it but most of all I'm going to miss the people I work with in front of the camera, behind the camera . You've just been absolutely amazing. I've just been so proud to front the programme. Thank you."
