Harriet Dart in the first round of Wimbledon 2022, London, UK
Harriet Dart in the first round of Wimbledon 2022, London, UK | (Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)

Tennis | Australian Open 2025 | Harriet Dart battles into the second round where she faces Donna Vekic

By Ros Satar

  • Harriet Dart [LL] v Donna Vekic [18]
  • H2H: Dart leads 1-0
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – Harriet Dart battled into the second round as a lucky loser, struggling with injury and cramp along the way, to earn a second-place match-up with Donna Vekic.

 

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Harriet Dart [LL] v Donna Vekic [18] | H2H & Match Fundamentals

Harriet Dart [LL] v Donna Vekic [18] H2H: Dart leads 1-0
Australian Open Melbourne, Australia
Hard (O) Prize Money: A$200,000
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Harriet Dart made the most of her Lucky Loser slot, battling injury and cramps at the end to book her spot in the second round, where she faces 18th seed Donna Vekic.

 

Tale of the Tape – Key Stats (2025)

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H2H: Harriet Dart (WR 112) Donna Vekic (WR 19)
Tournament Previous Best R2 (2020) Qualification (2023)
1st Serve Return Points Won % 42.8 39.4
Return Points Won % 49.1 43.5
Break Point Conversion % 53.2 33.3
Break Points Saved % 56.9 50.0
Overall Service Points Won % 55.2 56.6

Despite being ranked outside the Top 100, Dart’s time on the court in qualifiers edges her slightly ahead in the stats for the year, but Vekic’s experience and a resurgence over the past couple of years makes her the favourite.

 

 

Playing Styles & Prediction

We can expect a hard-hitting game, as Vekic brings strong, hard and flat groundstrokes and she will want to boss the points early. Dart will certainly bring the feistiness but already looks to be carrying an injury and looked very uncomfortable with cramp at the end of her first round.

Vekic is enjoying a resurgence in the past few years and really seems to be enjoying her tennis more. Dart is never short of the battling spirit – just take her fight against Katie Boulter at Wimbledon and the roller-coaster of emotions.

This will be a tall order for the Brit but never say never where Dart is concerned. However with the injury concerns, Vekic goes in as the favourite.

Prediction: Vekic in straight sets.

 

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