BBC Wimbledon presenter Annabel Croft, a former tennis star, has spoken candidly about the severe impact of online abuse, revealing that a particularly vicious attack left her feeling 'physically sick' and 'shaken'. The 59-year-old broadcaster, who is part of the BBC's commentary team for Wimbledon 2026, opened up about the incident during a Women in Sport programme on Eurosport in 2021.
Details of the Abuse
During a panel discussion on trolling with former England netball head coach Tracey Neville and cyclist Lizzy Banks, Croft described how a single online comment deeply affected her. 'I'm just deeply shocked by the viciousness that is out there on social media,' she said. She recounted a specific incident on X (formerly Twitter): 'Recently I had somebody who made me feel physically sick and shake inside from what they were saying. I've never met them, but the viciousness. And actually, someone put a death skull across a tweet about me the other day.'
Impact on Mental Health
Croft admitted she was 'shocked' by the comments she encountered, highlighting the role of online anonymity in enabling such abuse. The panel also discussed the negative impact of social media on athletes and broadcasters. Banks confessed she had distanced herself from the platform because it felt 'just too negative'. Croft's experience underscores the broader issue of online harassment faced by public figures.
Wimbledon 2026 and Personal Life
Now back for Wimbledon 2026, Croft has also spoken about the social challenges tennis players face. In a BBC Sport interview, she said it is 'impossible for tennis players to have a normal social life' due to the competitive nature of the sport, which restricts friendships and takes a toll on wellbeing. She noted that many players only discover their true identity after retirement, as life away from the court allows self-discovery. Coverage of Wimbledon 2026 resumes on BBC One at 2pm.
