Wimbledon: A Personal History

Sue Barker made her initial entrance through Wimbledon’s iconic gates at the age of 13 in 1969 to participate in the National Schools event. Little did she know then that for the next fifty years, she would return in various roles: as a junior at 15, as a semifinalist and Grand Slam winner ranked third globally, as a broadcaster leading BBC’s coverage for three decades, and finally, in 2023, as a spectator.

Now, she’s back as a storyteller.

While the enchantment of Wimbledon has endured, times have evolved. Sue, drawing from her firsthand experiences and conversations with mentors, players, and friends like Rod Laver, Billie Jean King, John McEnroe, Roger Federer, and Venus Williams, shares an intimate narrative of Wimbledon’s past and present. These luminaries reveal poignant memories and surprising insights, from Sampas’s regrets about not involving his parents more in his triumphs on Centre Court to Borg’s revelation about McEnroe being the quietest in the locker room—uttering his famous line, “You cannot be serious!”

Sue’s account encompasses everything from legendary matches and rivalries to fashion trends, breakthroughs, and heartbreaking defeats, all woven with the Championship’s unique allure and as densely packed with tales as Wimbledon’s grass courts are with blades of grass.