- Harriet Dart defeated fellow Australian Katie Boulter in a dramatic match on Thursday
- The British No. 2 has yet to reach the fourth round at Wimbledon in her senior career
Harriet Dart left Wimbledon in despair, the Brit fighting back tears after she lost her great chance to reach the second week of a Grand Slam for the first time.
Dart led 3-0 in the deciding set, but things went wrong when China’s Xinyu Wang won six games in a row to confirm her victory on court 2 with 2-6, 7-5, 6-3.
It was during this crushing collapse that the 27-year-old found himself on an emotional rollercoaster to the exit.
There was anger as she hit her bag with her racket, frustration as she directed words at her team and fear as she buried her face in her towel.
Finally, there was acceptance, as she wiped her eyes as she approached Wang at the net after a grueling third-round match that had lasted two hours and 18 minutes.
Harriet Dart failed to reach the fourth round of Wimbledon for the first time on Saturday
Chinese star Wang Xinyu fought back after being a set down to take victory on court No. 2
“It was a huge opportunity today,” said Dart, who is 58 places behind Wang in the world rankings.
“I’ve put myself in situations where I’ve been ahead. To be up by two sets and come away with a loss is honestly quite heartbreaking.
“I had a three-love lead in the third and lost six games in a row. I only have myself to blame. This one is definitely going to hurt for a long time.”
Dart defeated Wang to win their only meeting in Melbourne in 2022.
She also knew how to beat a top-50 player, with her second-round defeat to Katie Boulter marking the 11th such defeat in her career.
That victory was accompanied by tears, as Dart thought she was on the brink of defeat, but she still managed to emerge victorious in that emotionally charged match.
There were more breaks than a Kit Kat tasting at the start of this match. Wang broke Dart. Dart broke Wang. Dart held her serve and then broke again for a 3-1 lead.
As Dart served to make it 4-1 (deuce), umpire Miriam Bley suddenly called, “Play is suspended.” The spectators were confused, for there was no sign of a downpour, but the cloud-watchers of Wimbledon had seen that darkness was approaching.
Dart lost six games in a row and suffered a painful defeat in three sets in front of the SW19 crowd
The British No. 2 knocked out Katie Boulter in the second round after an impressive comeback
Dart made at least one change during the break, shedding the long sleeves she was wearing on a windy court No. 2, where a spectator’s umbrella was blown across the court by a particularly determined gust.
The break-a-thon continued after the delay. Dart was broken, Wang was broken, Dart held but Wang did not as the Brit secured the first set 6-2.
The two opponents continued to trade blows in the second set and at 5-5 Wang broke the ball and served out the set, leveling the match.
In the deciding third set, Dart took a 3-0 lead, but Wang, showing more mental resilience than her opponent, brought the score back to 3-3.
The Briton hit her bag at the changeover and hid behind her towel as Court No 2 tried to remind her she was still fighting.
In similar scenes of fear she returned against Boulter and wanted to win, but this time she did not.
Wang took the win, leaving Emma Raducanu as the only British woman in the singles.