IC of GB Sportsmanship Award 2021 - Annabel Croft

Many congratulations to Annabel Croft for winning the 2021 IC of GB Sportsmanship Award. 

This Award is given to a British tennis player who has over the course of his/her career or in a single situation shown an admirable attitude as a sportsman or sportswoman.

The IC helps promote and renew friendships across the net and the world and encourages fair play and sportsmanship, something that Annabel has consistently done throughout her career – a former professional British No. 1 female tennis player from Kent and now a respected radio and television presenter.

After winning the 1984 Wimbledon and Australian Open girls' tournaments, Annabel won the Virginia Slims of San Diego tournament in 1985, beating Wendy Turnbull in the final in straight sets, achieving a world ranking of 24 in December that year. She played for Great Britain in the Fed Cup in 1985 and 1986 and in the Wightman Cup from 1983 to 1986.

After retiring from professional tennis at the age of only twenty-one, Annabel then turned to television presenting, starring in Treasure Hunt and Interceptor. Always a supporter of health and fitness, in 1990, Annabel released her own fitness video - Annabel Croft's Shape Tape.

Annabel has been involved in coverage of Wimbledon Tennis for the BBC, Radio 5 Live and GMTV, and has also worked for Sky Sports and Eurosport as a tennis pundit. She has appeared on UK lifestyle TV shows such as The Wright Stuff, The Entertainment Show, GMTV, Out and About and This Morning.

Annabel does a huge amount for tennis – in addition to her knowledgeable commentating, she helped establish the Annabel Croft Academy offering over 100 hours of group sessions weekly, Tennis Camps, plus overseas Tennis Holidays with over 3,000 children taking part since 2009.

Annabel's contribution to tennis is widely recognised and she is a very worthy recipient of this award.

Congraulations Annabel!