Calling the Shots: My Autobiography

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I found the journey to becoming a tennis star really interesting and it is forgotten with her broadcast career what an amazing player she was. I’m sorry this comes over as a negative review, because on the whole it’s interesting to read of her gumption and professionalism in her sporting and television careers. She reveals the battles she fought for hard-won success in two careers and gives us a ringside seat on the nation's biggest sporting dramas, and a fascinating insider's understanding of competitors under pressure, such a shame injuries plagued her last few years. Currently underway, the FIFA Women’s World Cup not only showcases some of the best footballing talent in the world, but also some of the best stories about overcoming hurdles and hardship to succeed. I am not a big tennis fan and haven’t watched “Question of Sport” for decades but I really enjoyed Sue Barker’s biography.

Sue was born on April 19th 1956 and she started her tennis career as a ten-year-old pupil at her Convert school in Paignton. I liked sue barker it was interesting to hear how hard she worked to become world number 3 and win the French open a lot of effort and dedication well 👏 done. And that’s not a story unique to women’s football; from motorsport to gymnastics via tennis and more, there are women who have faced societal prejudices and personal and professional challenges to become the best at what they do. Sue Barker never managed to get to the dizzy heights of the before mentioned superstars but she was very competitive, won a grand slam and then went on to have a career in the media.She reveals the battles she fought for hard-won success in two careers and gives us a ringside seat on the nation's biggest sporting dramas, and a fascinating insider's understanding of competitors under pressure. I admire very much Lance the husband, a former policeman, who very gracefully steps aside as stays out of the limelight, keeps his and Sue's business's running to leave Sue have a great career. She anchored SPOTY for 19 years, was quizmaster on A Question of Sport for 24 years and fronted coverage of Wimbledon for three decades. I coached many teenager and adults for over twenty years, and played for many years for the island of Jersey, which I am proud to have done. The sign of a good autobiography is when you actually get an insight into the real person, not just a repeat of the well known facts.

From footballers to athletes and tennis players we've brought you the best stories and advice from on and off the pitch. I have been watching tennis since 1970 but I am embarrassed to say that I do not ever remember watching Sue play. She reveals the battles she fought for hard-won success in two careers, gives us a ringside seat on the nation's biggest sporting dramas, and a fascinating insider's understanding of competitors under pressure. Of course I love a tennis biography but was delighted to hear that Sue Barker was releasing one so soon after retiring from Wimbledon coverage. The irritation with the press (and Cliff) continually bringing up a 'relationship' which barely existed in any material sense, is the only real intrigue.How you see Sue on the television is the real Sue, and admire so much when she says "You see enough of me on television, you won't see me showing my house off in the Hello Magazine. She is clearly immensely proud of her broadcast career and it struck me that it would seem more than her tennis career, but not really surprising given the span of her broadcasting. Going all in for her once-only autobiography, Sue takes us inside the showbizzy world of 70s and early 80s tennis. I have always been a huge fan of A Question of Sport, and I was devastated when Sue was forced to leave.

She reveals the battles she fought for hard-won success in two careers and gives us a ringside seat on the nation's biggest sporting dramas and a fascinating insider's understanding of competitors under pressure. What you do get reading this book is the warmth of a tennis player and television celebrity who is close to her family and made lots of true friends throughout her life, many of who are household names. I loved the honesty, the humour and the insight into the tennis life, the presenter life and the private life. Also pleased to find that as well as being a very nice person she is also gutsy and fully able to stick up for herself.I would like to thank both Netgalley and Penguin Random House for supplying a copy of this biography in exchange for an honest review. Sue Barker’s autobiography is a real revelation to me, full of tennis facts and information about her tennis peers. Overall a good read about a sporting journey and what happens next in terms of career after that finishes. It is May 1976 and Sue plays her heart out, going through the tournament full of determination, concentration, and elegance.