Appearing as part of a promotional campaign for the airline, Barker has assumed the role of ‘the perfectionist’ – a tough-to-please examiner, tasked with making sure the i’s are dotted and the t’s are crossed at SW19. Barker’s tongue-in-cheek job includes checking the lines are painted, the net is the correct height, and the cake is to a satisfactory taste in the Emirates hospitality suite.
On the partnership, Barker explained: “It’s been a hive of activity as Wimbledon gets ready for an incredible fortnight of tennis. I have loved going behind the scenes in a different guise ensuring that all the little details around the grounds and in the Emirates hospitality suite are guest ready before gates open today at 10am.”
On the court, Barker has admitted she’s excited to watch how Jack Draper fares at Wimbledon, with the Brit having had somewhat of a breakout year. The Indian Wells winner has been tipped to compete for the title, with Barker telling The Independent: “Jack has just been a revelation.
“I spoke to him a couple of years ago when he was having shoulder issues and wondering whether he’d ever play again, and now to see him – what the heck was wrong with his shoulder, because now these bullets are coming out, the serve, the ground shots he’s hitting!
“Most impressive is physically how he’s changed. He’s super-strong now, but I guess he has to be to compete with the top guys.” She doesn’t name the top guys, but they hardly need to be spelled out: world No 1 Jannik Sinner and two-time defending Wimbledon champion Carlos Alcaraz.”
She added: “We always wondered who was ever going to take over from Roger, Rafa, Novak, and Andy. Now we have the answer,” she says. “I thought we’d have a few lean years, but these guys are amazing. And now to have Jack right up there, being talked about in the same sentence, is fantastic.”
