While much is known about the tennis ace, who became a professional player in 1984 and was ranked world number 24 before she surprisingly quit the sport just two years later at just 21, her late husband stayed largely out of the spotlight.<\/span><\/p>\n But he was a force for the sporting legend behind the scenes and Annabel admits she has cried every day since his death. <\/span><\/p>\n Read more… <\/strong> Strictly’s Annabel Croft opens up on ‘terrible’ time after husband’s death<\/strong><\/p>\n “It\u2019s been a terrible, terrible time,\u201d she recently admitted to The Mail On Sunday. \u201cThere\u2019s not been a day I haven\u2019t cried.”<\/p>\n Annabel, who will be officially introduced as one of Strictly’s new contestants when the show kicks off on Saturday also told the publication about her husband’s fondness for the show. She added: \u201cHe always loved the show and used to cry watching it, so I\u2019m completely heartbroken that he\u2019s not here to watch with me.”<\/p>\n Mel, who was 60 when he passed away in May of this year, was a professional yachtsman and investment banker who wed Annabel in 1993.<\/p>\n Mel, who met Annabel in 1988 when she was filming a show about yacht racing in Guernsey, had a passion for sailing and competed in many top events such as America’s Cup and the Admiral’s Cup.<\/p>\n His successful day job as an investment banker, which saw him have an estimated net worth of \u00a313m, saw him work for firms such as Morgan Stanley.<\/p>\n Don’t miss… <\/strong> ![](\"https:\/\/cdn.images.express.co.uk\/img\/dynamic\/79\/590x\/secondary\/Annabel-and-her-husband-Mel-were-married-for-30-years-4956518.jpg?r=1694550519304\")
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