Harriet Dart is poised to make a comeback to the top 100 rankings following her victory over fifth seed Elisabetta Cocciaretto in the quarter-finals of the Transylvania Open.
The 27-year-old, who qualified, bounced back from a set and 3-0 deficit to secure a 5-7, 7-5, 6-3 win in Cluj-Napoca. This is Dart’s fifth appearance in the quarter-finals of a WTA Tour tournament, but her first on a surface other than British grass. Her previous quarter-final run was at Birmingham last summer.
After starting the week at 103rd place, Dart is now highly likely to enter the top 100 along with fellow British players Katie Boulter and Jodie Burrage. This comes after her ranking dropped last year. In the match, Dart missed out on three set points at 5-4 and ultimately lost six consecutive games, putting her on the brink of elimination.
However, she persevered and managed to win the second set after her third attempt. Despite taking a break to treat a neck injury, she maintained her lead in the final set.
“I had several opportunities to score points in the first set, but I couldn’t capitalize on them. However, I believe she performed well during crucial moments,” stated Dart.
“Tennis is a game of fine margins. Despite the 3-0 score, there is always a possibility to turn things around and one must never give up. I seized a small opportunity and was able to capitalize on it. My goal is to continuously improve with each match. Participating in the qualifying rounds and getting accustomed to the court surface has been a fantastic experience for me in Cluj.”
Dart will face unseeded Spanish player Nuria Párrizas Díaz for a spot in the semi-finals.
Heather Watson, a British player, was eliminated in the last 16 of the Abu Dhabi Open. In the previous round, she had defeated Veronika Kudermetova, ranked 16th in the world, but ultimately lost 7-6 (1), 7-5 to Spanish lucky loser Cristina Bucsa.
Source: theguardian.com
