- Harriet Dart (LL) v Viktoria Kuzmova
- H2H: Kuzmova leads 2-0 (ITF, Fed Cup)
MONTERREY, MEXICO – Lucky Loser Harriet Dart served up a first win over No. 5 seed and fellow Brit Heather Watson, and faces Viktoria Kuzmova next.
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Recap: Harriet Dart [LL] def. Heather Watson [5] 6-4 7-6(1)
In a Battle of the Brits, Heather Watson found herself facing another Lucky Loser compatriot, this time Harriet Dart. Certainly Dart started the brighter, having come through qualifying rounds with an immediate break of Watson’s serve, but soon found herself pegged back as Watson reeled off three games in a row.
Dart did not panic, breaking Watson again and this time holding on to the advantage to wrap up the first set.
Watson came back strongly at the start of the second set, swiftly coming back at Dart from an immediate break once more at the start of the set, again winning the next three games on the spin. Dart rallied to break Watson as she served for the second set and got things back on an even keel, going on to force a tie-breaker.
Dart ran away with the breaker, to seal her first win over the more experienced Brit.
Harriet Dart (LL) v Viktoria Kuzmova H2H & Match Fundamentals
| Harriet Dart (LL) v Viktoria Kuzmova | H2H: Kuzmova leads 2-0 (ITF, Fed Cup) |
| WTA Monterrey | Monterrey, Mexico |
| Hard (O) | Prize Money: $3,675 |
| Scheduled first on Estadio at 1pm
(7pm GMT) |
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Preview: Harriet Dart (LL) v Viktoria Kuzmova | H2H: Kuzmova leads 2-0 (ITF, Fed Cup)
Although their most recent meeting was in Fed Cup in 2020, Dart comes into this match a lot sharper with much more court time than Viktoria Kuzmova, who picked up her first win of the season in the first round here.
Dart will be riding high with a win over the more experience Watson, and will certainly have a bit of a spring in her step when she takes on Kuzmova.
Tale of the Tape – Key Stats (2021)
| H2H: | Harriet Dart (WR 153) | Viktoria Kuzmova (WR 104) |
| Tournament Previous Best | R1 (2019, 2021) | Debut |
| 1st Serve Return Points Won % | 34.3 | 27.0 |
| Return Points Won % | 40.9 | 36.5 |
| Break Point Conversion % | 42.9 | 38.9 |
| Break Points Saved % | 58.8 | 48.3 |
| Total Points Won % | 48.5 | 44.1 |
Dart has had much more match-play which explains her stats over the higher ranked Kuzmova, and her sharpness here with qualifying rounds under her belt will help.
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Playing Styles
This will be a game that sees the covers being battered off the ball. Both play an aggressive style of game, with Dart able to hammer the ball deep to paint the lines, and with interest.
Both will want to try and grab some free points off their serve, with arguably Kuzmova’s experience giving her a slight edge.
Prediction
Despite a blip at the start of the second set, Dart looked solid off both wings, and with precision, depth and quite some force in her match against Watson. She certainly has the game to give Kuzmova a match, but the Slovak has had the measure of Dart twice, with the most recent being during the Fed Cup.
Dart has the spirit though to make Kuzmova have to work hard for this.
Prediction: Kuzmova in three sets.
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