Fighting spirit helps Dart book quarter-final spot in Eastbourne

Harriet Dart believes her fighting spirit helped her force her way into the quarter-finals of the LTA’s Rothesay International Eastbourne following a determined win on Court 2.

Wildcard Dart was set up for a tie with world No. 4 Elena Rybakina before the 2022 Wimbledon champion withdrew earlier in the week.

Against 2020 Australian Open champion Sofia Kenin, the 27-year-old went a set up before falling on the wrong side of a tie-break.

She came back in the decider to motor through to the quarter-finals by taking the third in emphatic fashion, winning 6-3 6-7(3) 6-0.

She said: “It was a really tough match. She’s a tough player, I was really pleased to get the win and regroup after that second set tie-break and come out firing in the third.

“I really battled my way through.

“My plan was to try and finish points a bit quicker and today it worked.”

The British No. 2 powered into the second round following a marathon match against world No.37 Marie Bouzkova in the first, her biggest win of the season by ranking.

That match provided Brit with a wealth of experience on the surface in the build-up to Wimbledon where she will take to the main draw next week in singles, as well as teaming up with last year’s quarter-finalist Maia Lumsden for doubles.

In Eastbourne, victory set up a tie with Canada’s Leylah Fernandez as Dart switches her focus to that match and recovering from an injury niggle picked up during her second-round tie.

Since the tournament’s inception 50 years ago in 1974, it is the second time three or more British players have made the quarter-finals on the south coast when Anne Hobbs, Virginia Wade and Michelle Tyler all made it to the last eight in 1978.

Katie Boulter and Harriet Dart joined Raducanu in women’s singles as Billy Harris also secured his last-eight spot in the men’s singles.

For the latest action on the British summer grass court season, check out the LTA website