Annabel's love for Wimbledon

As she resumes hosting duties, former junior champion Annabel Croft tells Grace Hammond why she adores the tournament.
27/04/17 PA File Photo of Annabel Croft at the BT Sport Industry Awards 2017 held at Battersea Evolution in Battersea Park, London. See PA Feature TOPICAL Life Wimbledon Croft. Picture credit should read: Ian West/PA Photos. WARNING: This picture must only be used to accompany PA Feature TOPICAL Life Wimbledon Croft27/04/17 PA File Photo of Annabel Croft at the BT Sport Industry Awards 2017 held at Battersea Evolution in Battersea Park, London. See PA Feature TOPICAL Life Wimbledon Croft. Picture credit should read: Ian West/PA Photos. WARNING: This picture must only be used to accompany PA Feature TOPICAL Life Wimbledon Croft
27/04/17 PA File Photo of Annabel Croft at the BT Sport Industry Awards 2017 held at Battersea Evolution in Battersea Park, London. See PA Feature TOPICAL Life Wimbledon Croft. Picture credit should read: Ian West/PA Photos. WARNING: This picture must only be used to accompany PA Feature TOPICAL Life Wimbledon Croft

Annabel Croft has first-hand experience of what it’s like being part of the Wimbledon action.

At just 15, she became the youngest Brit to compete in the Championships for 95 years – and, at 18, became a junior champion at the tournament in 1984.

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Now aged 50, the mum-of-three is still a member of the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, and regularly goes there to play.

“The smell is amazing,” she says of the grass court tournament.

“When you get on a grass court, there’s something very pure about it, and very close to nature. And the way they cut the grass, they’ve got these pristine lines going down them, which are just perfection.”

She says the all-white dress-code is another thing that makes Wimbledon different from other tournments on the circuit.

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“I cover the tour from January to November, and all-white is rather unusual. I really liked it, but fashion has moved on a lot since the days I played, there’s so much more glamour in the women’s game [now].

“But I think most players would say even though they enjoy wearing what they wear on the tour the rest of the year, and it’s all multi-coloured and quite daring, I think they love to wear all-white at Wimbledon. It seems to go with the grass courts. There’s something special about it.

“Fashion has always been an important part of Wimbledon’s history and it’s nice that it’s kept up.

“Teddy Tinling was extremely well-known for his designs for Virginia Wade, Billie Jean King, and Gussie Moran’s frilly knickers. I think it went through a fairly boring stage [after that] and now it’s come back with a vengeance.

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“Venus and Serena Williams almost take evening wear onto a tennis court, with the level of detail and fabrics and design.

“Venus wore a dress one year which was almost like a Charleston dress, in layers with fringing. It was honestly one of the most beautiful dresses I have ever seen, it was breath-taking.”

But one of the most important and most memorable things about Wimbledon for Annabel is the atmosphere on Centre Court

“I always feel like Centre Court is like a cathedral, even when the tournament’s not on,” she says.

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“It’s got this kind of echoey sound of all the epic, five-set thrillers and great gladiators that have been out there on that court. You can almost hear the crowds, the points being played and the score being called.

“It conjures up so many emotions and I think tennis has taken people on a roller coaster ride of emotion over the years. It’s had them on the edge of their seats, and that’s why people take two weeks off work to go and watch Wimbledon.

“You can feel the history when you walk out there,” adds Annabel. “It’s almost like: Oh my God, it’s been over 100 years of people playing matches on this court, all the great scenarios and scenes and battles, and winners and losers.

“ It’s just an amazing place.”

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