Sue Barker and Roger Federer might be set for shock appearances at Wimbledon
Sue Barker and Roger Federer might be poised to attend Wimbledon this yr regardless of the pair having stepped again from tennis for the reason that final version of the event. Barker introduced the BBC‘s reside protection of the occasion for the ultimate time final summer season and has since been changed because the broadcaster’s face of Wimbledon by Clare Balding.
Plenty of emotional tributes had been paid to Barker as she waved goodbye to Centre Court after Novak Djokovic’s victory over Nick Kyrgios within the last. The likes of Andy Murray, John McEnroe and Chris Evert had been all in attendance to honour the 67-year-old, who struggled to carry again tears because the curtain got here down on her 29-year spell because the BBC‘s lead presenter.
Federer was additionally current at Wimbledon final yr however has since retired from skilled tennis after bowing out on the Laver Cup again in September. It stays to be seen whether or not the Swiss icon or Barker will return to the All England Club over the approaching weeks, though they will surely be welcomed by followers and TV viewers alike in the event that they resolve to point out their faces as soon as once more.
Wimbledon chairman Ian Hewitt has already confirmed that Federer is because of seem this yr as a lifetime honorary member, whereas Tennis Infinity have reported {that a} tribute to his glittering profession might be unveiled over the course of the Wimbledon fortnight.
“He is a very great champion,” stated Hewitt. “We have a very close association. I am delighted to say that Roger will be making a visit here as a member. He is very welcome any time, and yes, we will be celebrating his achievements in an appropriate Wimbledon way in due course.”
It was claimed by The Telegraph again in February {that a} deal was on the playing cards to see Federer return to Wimbledon as a BBC commentator, however the man himself shortly rubbished the hypothesis by way of Twitter by insisting that he has no plans to work on the All England Club in a media capability.
Federer was taking questions from followers on Twitter when a fan requested: “Any plans to do commentary on TV? Like becoming a member of BBC throughout Wimbledon?” The 41-year-old promptly replied to clarify that he doesn’t have any broadcasting commitments for this yr however refused to rule out a return to the event in future, saying: “No plans to commentate this year!”
Meanwhile, no concrete plans for Barker to attend Wimbledon have been confirmed by any social gathering as of but, though it could not be a large shock to see the veteran broadcaster watching the motion as a fan for the primary time in round three a long time.
Representatives for each Barker and Federer had been contacted by Express Sport however didn’t instantly reply to a request for remark.