She was the youngest Brit in nearly a century to play in the main draw at Wimbledon, but at the age of just 21, Annabel made the bold decision to step away from professional tennis to seek new challenges, which has taken her from the jungles of Sri Lanka and the Treasure Hunt helicopter to the Strictly Come Dancing studio and now her place in the Wimbledon commentary box. Now she’s lifting the lid on it all in a new touring show, Annabel Croft: From Tennis Balls to Glitter Balls. We sat down for a chat with the tennis legend to find out more
Annabel, tell us about your tour. What’s it all about?
I’m really excited! It’s running from 25 September to 23 November and is all about sharing my experiences from the world of tennis, broadcasting and dancing on Strictly.”
How did your career begin?
“When I was 11, a schoolteacher asked me to write an essay called ‘What I Would Like To Do’. I said I wanted to be able to play tennis, win Wimbledon, make journeys all around the world, and dance on stage! I did play tennis at Wimbledon and win the Open Girls’ tournament. I did travel the world playing in many other tournaments. And many years later I also got to dance on one of the biggest stages of all, Strictly!”
So, your dreams really did come true?
“Yes! Not everyone is lucky enough to be able to say that, so I hope that 11-year-old Annabel would look at me now and think I’ve not done too badly!”
What else do you think contributed to your success?
“When opportunities arise, I’ve always been the sort of person to walk through the door and at the very least look at what’s involved. I’ve never been afraid of putting myself in places where I could end up falling flat on my face – which believe me has happened on more than one occasion! But that shouldn’t ever discourage you. We should never be afraid to give things a try.”
Do you ever have any regrets about turning your back on tennis at such a young age?
“No. I’ve never fallen out of love with the game – and still plays most weeks – but I couldn’t come to terms with living out of a suitcase, dealing with agents, managers, solicitors and sponsors, and giving up anything resembling a conventional social life.”
Going back to Strictly. Many questioned you signing up just a few months after the death of your husband, Mel, from cancer. How did you cope?
“I hadn’t appreciated just how good things like dancing or yoga are for people dealing with grief. Having briefly practised ballet when I was young, the show took me full circle to those early years when I’d be in my room putting on Tchaikovsky or Prokofiev and dreaming of doing Romeo and Juliet. I loved the process on Strictly of learning all the different dances, and it felt as if my tight, stiff body was unravelling like a giant ball of string. The movement and fluidity of the music and routines helped me to free up and release the tension.”
What about extra support from your colleagues?
“It’s a close and tight-knit community on the tennis media circuit, and I felt very, very supported. They were brilliant. I felt a lot of love and support at that time, and I’m so thankful. To go back into commentary straight after Mel’s death at the French Open and be able to talk about the world I knew helped to distract me from the way my life had been turned upside down.”
So, what are your plans when it comes to your career?
“I’m not looking too far ahead right now for another challenge, other than trying to enjoy and appreciate life’s simpler pleasures like taking regular walks, and connecting with nature. I’m focusing much more about being in the moment, and enjoying what I’m doing now. It’s something that the top sports people are trained to do, and is one of tennis legend Billie Jean King’s most famous lines: ‘be present’.”
Find out more about Annabel Croft: From Tennis Balls to Glitter Balls tour dates here.
