She told Sky News: “When I started in the 1970s – ancient history – women really weren’t playing.
“But then the magnificent Billie Jean King arrived and suddenly won the battle of the sexes, got us a tournament, got us sponsors, got us an association.
“She made my hobby become my career.”
In September 2020, the BBC announced that Barker would leave Question Of Sport, having hosted the show since 1997.
She said that issues around her controversial exit from the show were more about “the way it was handled” rather than any form of ageism.
Sue concluded: “We accept that we don’t own the programme and they have the right to move it on.”
