Annabel Croft is a British former professional tennis player and current radio and television presenter.
As a tennis player she won the WTA Tour event Virginia Slims of San Diego and represented Great Britain in the Fed Cup and the Wightman Cup.
Who is Annabel Croft?
Annabel Croft is a former British No1 female tennis player and current radio and television presenter.
She was born in Farnborough, Hampshire, on July 12, 1966.
Becoming professional in 1984, she was ranked number 24 in the world before her shock retirement in 1986 aged just 21.
Annabel is also active in raising awareness of child obesity, and is a supporter of the children’s cancer charity CLIC Sargent.
What is Annabel Croft known for?
Croft won both the Wimbledon and Australian Open girls’ tournaments in 1984.
A year later she won her only singles title – the Virginia Slims of San Diego tournament – beating Wendy Turnbull 6-0, 7-6.
She also starred for Great Britain in the Fed Cup in 1985 and 1986 and in the Wightman Cup from 1983 to 1986.
The furthest Croft reached in any of the four grand slams she participated in was the third round at Wimbledon in 1984 and the US Open in 1986.
Despite being among the world’s top 25 players, the British No1 retired from tennis at the age of 21.
In 2011 she claimed the reason for her retirement was the “stressful nature of the tour”, which was described as being like “having an argument every day and preparing for another one tomorrow”.
Afdter her retirement she fronted TV series Treasure Hunt, followed by her own show, Interceptor.
In 1990 Croft released her own fitness video called Annabel Croft’s Shape Tape.
She has been involved in coverage of Wimbledon for the BBC, Radio 5 Live and GMTV, and has also worked for Sky Sports and Eurosport as a pundit.
Additionally, she has started up her own tennis academy in three countries.
In June 2009, Annabel Croft took part in a BBC series of two programmes called Famous, Rich And Homeless, about living penniless on the streets of London.
And she took part in the Great British Menu 2017 as a guest judge.
Annabel Croft husband Mel Coleman
Who was Annabel Croft’s husband Mel Coleman?
Mel Coleman was married to Annabel since 1992 and was a professional yachtsman and investment banker.
He took part in the America’s Cup and more recently ran a tennis school with his wife.
Following Covid lockdowns the pair of them converted an old delivery van into a mobile home and took it around the country and into Europe on walking holidays together.
Annabel Croft children
The pair have three grown-up children, Charlie, Amber and Lily.
What has happened to Annabel Croft’s husband?
He died just eight weeks after complaining of stomach pain and being diagnosed with stage three cancer.
He was just 60 years old when he passed away.
When did Annabel Croft’s husband died?
Coleman died on 25 May 2023, After a short illness with cancer.
Releasing a statement at the time of his death, Annabel said: “My beloved husband Mel passed away peacefully on Wednesday morning after a short battle with cancer.
“My family and I are completely heartbroken and ask for privacy at this very sad time.”
A friend told the Daily Mail at the time: “This has come as an extreme shock to everyone – the diagnosis was out of the blue and Mel did not seem unwell at the time.
“Sadly the cancer progressed brutally…. Everyone is devastated and horrified, and Annabel is absolutely shattered.”
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