By Tony Fairbairn at Wimbledon
- Xinyu Wang def Harriet Dart 2-6 7-5 6-3
- Harriet Dart has said she has only herself to blame after her ‘heartbreaking’ three set defeat to Xinyu Wang
LONDON, ENGLAND – Harriet Dart has taken responsibility for her third round defeat to Xinyu Wang at Wimbledon as she described the loss as ‘heartbreaking.’
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It was disappointment for Harriet Dart as the Brit lost six games in a row to exit Wimbledon at the third round stage.
In a rain-delayed contest, Dart seized control of the opening set as she dealt with the tricky conditions better.
The Brit carried that form into the second set as Dart broke for a 3-1 lead and was in control of the contest.
That was when it all went wrong as Dart took her foot off the gas and was broken back as the second set was tense and tight.
Then in the latter stages of the second set and the early part of the deciding set was the killer blow for Dart.
At Deuce in the tenth game, Dart missed an easy smash which if she made it would have given her match point but instead Wang took control of the end of the set as she levelled the match at one set all.
After taking a 3-0 lead in the deciding set, Dart missed another crucial shot as she missed a forehand at the net that would have given her a 4-1 lead.
Instead Dart missed and Wang would win six games in a row to seal her place in the second week of Wimbledon.
As for Dart, the Brit reflected on what could have been as she described the defeat as ‘heartbreaking.’
“I mean, it was a huge opportunity today. I put myself in some situations where I was up and leading. Yeah, it was really tough. I mean, to be up in two sets and come away with a loss is pretty heartbreaking, to be honest,” Dart said in her press conference.
“I think, for sure, I played some good tennis at times. But the wind was really difficult to deal with. But she also played some good tennis at times. I mean, I had 3-Love lead in the third, and I lost six games in a row. I only have myself to blame.
“I mean, first three games were close anyway. Then, I don’t know, it kind of just unraveled really. It was the same in the second set. I was 3-1 up with a break, then got broken. Then 4-2 up. It was just chaos. The wind was I guess a contributing factor. It was forever changing, so it was difficult for both of us, not just me. There’s two players out there at the end of the day. She just handled it a lot better than me.”
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Dart ‘stinging’ from defeat but takes positives from Wimbledon run
A tough defeat for Dart to take as she lost six games in a row and missed two easy shots in crucial moments that led to her defeat.
It was an opportunity for the Brit to reach the second week at Wimbledon for the first time but couldn’t get over the finishing line.
Despite the loss, Dart has had a positive last few weeks which included a run to the Eastbourne quarter-finals.
Speaking after the grass court season, Dart has said that this defeat will ‘sting’ for a while but she is finding the positives having played some good tennis recently.
“This one will definitely sting for a long time I think,” Dart reflected.
“Especially because being here at such a big event and everything that comes with Wimbledon. Obviously, being a British player, you want to play well here. Hopefully it doesn’t take me too long. I don’t know. I mean, it’s a really tough one because I’ve been playing some good tennis these few weeks.
“I’ve had some good results and I’ve been playing some good tennis. It’s definitely a match I’m going to have to really learn from. I had so many opportunities and I just didn’t take them.
“As well, because I feel like I’ve been playing some good tennis in the last few weeks and I’ve put myself in a position where I’ve been getting some good results. I really believed I could do some damage here. To lose today, being up twice, is going to sting for quite a while.
“But this is tennis. Every week you’re dealing with losses. Just have to find a way through it.”
Dart will now achieve a new career high ranking of 81 in the world and will aim to continue her momentum at the US Open.
The US Open main draw starts on the 26th of August.
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