Who is Sue Barker and why did she return to Wimbledon for Andy Murray's emotional farewell ceremony? All you need to know

Andy Murray's farewell ceremony at the 2024 Wimbledon became extra special as the legendary Sue Barker returned to the venue to conduct the proceedings. The three-time Major champion is making his final appearance at the All England Club.

Murray opted not to compete in singles and instead entered the mixed and the men's doubles draw. Him and his brother Jamie took to Centre Court on Thursday (July 4) for their first-round match, and were beaten by the Australian duo of John Peers and Rinky Hijikata 7-6 (6), 6-4.

A special ceremony was held after the match to honor Murray, which featured the who's who of tennis. Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic, and a host of other players were present but the loudest applause was reserved for Barker, who returned to the venue after two years.

Here's a quick look into Barker's life and why she's so beloved by fans and players alike:

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Who is Sue Barker?

Investitures 2022: Sue Barker Among Recipients. (Photo: Getty)

Sue Barker was born on April 19, 1956, in Paignton, Devon, England and rose to prominence as one of the leading tennis players in the 1970s. She captured her first and only Major title at the 1976 French Open, and won an additional 14 singles titles and 12 doubles titles during her career.

Barker peaked at No. 3 in the WTA rankings, and finished the season ranked in the top 10 on three occasions. She secured wins over some of the biggest names of that era, including Chris Evert, Martina Navratilova, Billie Jean King, and Tracy Austin, among others. The Brit hung up her racquet for good in 1984, and turned her attention to other endeavors.

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Sue Barker's second innings as a presenter was wildly successful

Following her retirement from tennis, Barker headed Down Under to work as a commentator and presenter with Channel 7 in 1985. She returned to Britain to work with broadcasting giant Sky from 1990 to 1993. However, it was her next stint which cemented her status as an enduring British icon.

Barker joined BBC in 1993 to be a part of the network's Wimbledon coverage, a job she would excel at until her retirement in 2022. While she focused on other ventures besides tennis, and was a part of BBC's coverage for other tennis events, her presence during Wimbledon was one of the highlights of the tournament.

Barker's easy going demeanor, knowledge about the sport, and her camaraderie with everyone she interacted with made her a treat to watch. It was no surprise that she made a comeback for Murray's farewell ceremony as well.

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Sue Barker came out of retirement to be a part of Andy Murray's farewell ceremony

Sue Barker with Andy Murray at the 2024 Wimbledon. (Photo: Getty)

While Andy Murray lost one of his final matches at Wimbledon, the result quickly faded into the background. Once the final point was played, the crowd was on their feet to honor the champion who had given it his all to the sport.

Murray was pleasantly surprised to see Barker return to conduct the ceremony, and the two resumed their friendly banter like before. A special video tribute included words from his rivals and fellow tennis players, including Federer, Djokovic, and Venus Williams.

Murray spoke at length about his career, thanking his wife, family, and colleagues for an incredible journey. While his humor shined throughout his speech, there was not a dry eye left by the time he was done talking. The Brit was a regular fixture of the sport for so long, and now his absence will be sorely felt.