ANNABEL CROFT HEADS TO BRAINTREE

“I’m excited to share my tennis, broadcasting and dancing experiences,” she says.“A teacher once asked me to write an essay called ‘What I Would Like To Do’. I said I wanted to play tennis, win Wimbledon, make journeys around the world and dance on stage. I did play tennis at Wimbledon and win the Open Girls’ tournament, as well as travelling the world playing tournaments. I also got to take part in Strictly Come Dancing. In between, there’s been highs and lows, laughs and tears, but every day has been part of life’s learning experience. Not everyone is lucky enough to see their childhood dreams come true, so I hope 11-year-old Annabel would think I’ve not done too badly!” 

 
From competitive tennis to the commentary box, plus a TV and stage career, Annabel’s earned a reputation as a trailblazer never afraid of stepping out of her comfort zone. 

 
“When opportunities arise I’m the sort of person to walk through the door and at the very least take a look at what’s involved,” she says. “I’ve never been afraid of putting myself in places where I could end up falling flat on my face – which has happened on more than one occasion! But that shouldn’t discourage you. We should never be afraid to give things a try.” 

Which is why she's excited at the prospect of setting off on her one-woman tour, with her Braintree show on Thursday 13 November.

But what's in store for audiences? A glimpse behind the scenes of great tennis tournaments, plus sharing moments from her career including interviews with legends Roger Federer, Andy Murray, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic.

Annabel will also be transporting audiences to the glitz and glamour of Strictly, when she wowed audiences to the semi-final with dance partner Johannes Radebe. At the time people questioned her signing up to the live prime-time TV show just a few months after the death of husband Mel. But it turned out to be the perfect tonic. "I hadn't appreciated how good things like dancing or yoga are for people dealing with grief. She's also incredibly grateful for the support she received from her commentary box colleagues. "To go back into it straight after Mel's death, and be able to talk about the world I knew, helped distract me from the way my life had been turned upside down."

But what about Annabel turning her back on tennis at such a tender age? She has no regrets, as she couldn't come to terms with a routine that meant "living out of a suitcase, dealing with agents, managers, solicitors and sponsors, and giving up anything resembling a conventional social life". Never one to stand still for long, Annabel would exhaust her friends because of her energy - and five decades on she's still constantly on the go. But she's not looking too far ahead, other than appreciating life's simpler pleasures. "I'm focusing more about being in the moment and enjoying what I'm doing now," she says. "It's something that sports people are trained to do, and is one of tennis legend Billie Jean King's most famous lines: Be present."

Annabel Croft is heading to The Institute on Thursday 13 November as part of her Annabel Croft: From Tennis Balls to Glitter Balls tour.