Tennis: Croft going wild

ANNABEL CROFT, the former British No 1, makes a surprise comeback as a wild-card entry into next week's Volkswagen National Championships at Telford. Last seen in pantomime in Stockport, the one-time television Treasure Hunter has decided to pick up her rackets again chiefly for fun.

The sport did not appear to give the 26-year-old from Farnborough, Hampshire, a great deal of pleasure when she was a regular on the tour. Indeed, constant travel and the loneliness of a hotel-room existence caused the former Wimbledon junior champion to seek other pursuits outside of tennis.

Croft was ranked No 22 in the world in 1986, having represented the nation in all its representative teams, from the Maureen Connolly Cup to the Federation Cup, plus the now defunct Wightman Cup. As a junior she was a national champion at under- 12, under-14 and under-16 levels, and in 1984 she won the junior title at the Australian Open as well as at the All England Club.

The latter success prompted a good deal of publicity and Croft's coach, Owen Davidson, felt that the weight of expectation became too heavy for her. Jo Durie had risen to No 5 in the world in 1984 and Croft was seen as the player to either succeed her or spur her on.

By 1989, Croft's name no longer figured among the list of British hopefuls - her national ranking had dropped to No 9 - and before long she was making more appearances on television than on the tennis courts. She reappears next week with an opening match in the Nationals against Alison Smith, of Stafford.