Annabel Croft facts for kids
Annabel Croft in 2011
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| Full name | Annabel Nicola Croft |
|---|---|
| Country (sports) |  Great Britain |
| Residence | Kingston upon Thames |
| Born | 12 July 1966 Farnborough, Kent, England |
| Retired | 1988 |
| Prize money | $201,254 |
| Singles | |
| Career record | 49–68 |
| Career titles | 1 |
| Highest ranking | No. 24 (31 December 1985) |
| Grand Slam singles results | |
| Australian Open | 2R (1984, 1985) |
| French Open | 2R (1986) |
| Wimbledon | 3R (1984) |
| US Open | 3R (1986) |
| Doubles | |
| Career record | 13–36 |
| Career titles | 0 |
| Highest ranking | No. 126 (21 December 1986) |
Annabel Nicola Croft (born 12 July 1966) is a famous British celebrity who first became known as a professional tennis player. She later became a popular radio and television presenter.
As a tennis player, Annabel won a major tournament called the Virginia Slims of San Diego. She also played for Great Britain in big team events like the Fed Cup and the Wightman Cup.
After she stopped playing tennis professionally, she started a new career in television. She hosted exciting shows like Treasure Hunt and Interceptor. In 2005, she won a TV show called Celebrity Wrestling. More recently, in 2023, she was a contestant on the popular BBC show Strictly Come Dancing, where she finished in fourth place. Annabel also works as a tennis expert for channels like Eurosport, Sky Sports, and the BBC.
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Growing Up
Annabel Croft was born in Farnborough, Kent, England. Her father, James, worked as a chartered surveyor, a job that involves valuing land and buildings. She lived with her family in Bickley, a part of London. From a young age, she showed great talent in tennis and was coached by Derek Bone.
A Star on the Tennis Court
Annabel had a very successful junior tennis career. In 1984, she won the girls' singles titles at two of the biggest tournaments in the world: Wimbledon and the Australian Open. This showed everyone she was a future star.
The next year, in 1985, she won her first professional title at the Virginia Slims of San Diego tournament. She beat Wendy Turnbull in the final match. By the end of that year, she was ranked number 24 in the entire world.
She proudly represented her country, Great Britain, in the Fed Cup in 1985 and 1986. She also played in the Wightman Cup, a special tournament between Great Britain and the United States, from 1983 to 1986.
Life After Tennis: A TV Star
Even though she was one of the top 25 players in the world, Annabel decided to retire from professional tennis in 1988 when she was only 21. She had grown tired of all the travelling and felt she wasn't enjoying the sport as much anymore.
Right after retiring, she began a new career in television. She became the new host of the popular show Treasure Hunt. After that, she even had her own action game show called Interceptor.
Over the years, Annabel has appeared on many TV shows. She is often seen during the Wimbledon Tennis Championships, where she shares her expert opinions for the BBC and other sports channels like Sky Sports and Eurosport.
In 2023, Annabel took part in the famous dancing competition Strictly Come Dancing. She was partnered with professional dancer Johannes Radebe, and they danced their way to fourth place.
Family and Charity Work
Annabel was married to Mel Coleman, who was a champion yachtsman. They met when he taught her how to sail for a TV show in 1987. They got married in 1993. For their wedding, they were driven away in the original car from the movie Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, which was Annabel's favorite film.
The couple lived near Wimbledon in London and had three children: two daughters, Amber Rose and Lily, and a son, Charlie. Together, they started the Annabel Croft Tennis Academy in 2009 to help train new tennis players. Sadly, her husband Mel passed away in 2023.
Annabel is also involved in helping others. She works to raise awareness about health issues affecting children and supports a charity for children with cancer called Young Lives vs Cancer.
Major Professional Win
This table shows Annabel Croft's biggest singles title win during her professional career.
| Result | Date | Tournament | Surface | Opponent | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Win | 22 April 1985 | Virginia Slims of San Diego, United States | Hard |  Wendy Turnbull |
6–0, 7–6 |
