By Ros Satar
- Harriet Dart v Zhang Shuai [2]
- First Meeting
AUSTIN, TEXAS, USA – Harriet Dart starts her campaign in Austin, facing the second seed Zhang Shuai.
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Harriet Dart v Zhang Shuai [2] | H2H & Match Fundamentals
Harriet Dart will be looking for a bit of momentum as she takes on the No. 2 seed Zhang Shuai in their first meeting.
| Harriet Dart v Zhang Shuai | H2H: First Meeting |
| WTA Austin | Texas, USA |
| Hard (O) | Prize Money: $1,848 |
| First on Stadium Court at 10:30am (4:30pm GMT) | Amazon Prime Video <– Sign up for trial |
Tale of the Tape – Key Stats (Hard Court 2023)
| H2H: | Harriet Dart (WR 110) | Zhang Shuai (WR 23) |
| Tournament Previous Best | Debut | Debut |
| 1st Serve Return Points Won % | 35.5 | 29.5 |
| Return Points Won % | 40.1 | 38.8 |
| Break Point Conversion % | 46.7 | 43.1 |
| Break Points Saved % | 50.0 | 49.1 |
| Total Points Won % | 45.5 | 48.6 |
Dart just edges Zhang in key stats despite having had a lot less success this year overall, but Zhang has also struggled for form since reaching the fourth round of the Australian Open and both will be keen to get going again here.
Playing Styles & Prediction
What Dart might lack in height compared to other players, she makes up with a sharp and aggressive game. She is always looking to taje the early initiative and combines good movement with her favoured backhand down the line. But her second serve sets her up to be punished royally.
It could well be a battle of the back-hands – Zhang can also move well and with her doubles prowess, can create angles and come forward well, and also tends to favour her backhand.
Dart could just edge this, but could be made to work quite hard for it.
Prediction: Dart in three sets.
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