Sue Barker bid a tearful farewell to Wimbledon in 2022 after announcing her retirement would coincide with the end of the tournament, prompting John McEnroe to joke that he and Tim Henman would follow suit
Sue Barker’s poignant goodbye to Wimbledon in 2022 left quite an emotional void for tennis aficionados and sports figures alike, so much so that her former coworker John McEnroe humorously threatened to walk out with British tennis icon Tim Henman in a grand gesture of support.
Barker stepped away after a 30-year tenure at the BBC, where she became synonymous with Wimbledon’s broadcasts. The sports community widely recognized and lauded her contributions upon her retirement
John McEnroe threatened to quit after Wimbledon co-worker’s emotional departure
Sue Barker bid a tearful farewell to Wimbledon in 2022 after announcing her retirement would coincide with the end of the tournament, prompting John McEnroe to joke that he and Tim Henman would follow suit
Sue Barker’s poignant goodbye to Wimbledon in 2022 left quite an emotional void for tennis aficionados and sports figures alike, so much so that her former coworker John McEnroe humorously threatened to walk out with British tennis icon Tim Henman in a grand gesture of support.
Barker stepped away after a 30-year tenure at the BBC, where she became synonymous with Wimbledon’s broadcasts. The sports community widely recognized and lauded her contributions upon her retirement.
McEnroe, whose prediction for the Women’s final on Sunday backfired, surprised many with his playful suggestion that he and commentator Henman might bow out too during Barker’s last Wimbledon segment.
“We all agreed we would only go as long as you can,” he proclaimed, referencing he and Henman’s hypothetical protest exit to acknowledge the widespread respect for Barker upon her farewell. “Now you have put the pressure on us! What is going to happen next? Henman, are we going to have a tournament next year?”
