Harriet Dart just smashed a 19-month Grand Slam drought at the US Open, pulling off a battling victory over American Peyton Stearns. Seriously, the world number 131 hadn’t seen a main-draw singles win at a major since the 2025 Australian Open, but she clawed her way back from a set and a break down to win 3-6, 6-3, 6-2 and make the second round in New York for the third time. Talk about grinding it out!
That Rollercoaster Match Against Stearns
Man, this win wasn’t easy. Dart found herself trailing Stearns, an opponent ranked over 75 places higher, after dropping the first set 3-6. She couldn’t convert any of her four break points in that opening game, and Stearns just kept piling on the pressure, eventually breaking in the eighth game. It looked even tougher when Dart was broken again right at the start of the second set. But that’s when things started to flip. Stearns got increasingly erratic, racking up 47 unforced errors against her 40 winners, and Dart seized the moment. She secured two crucial breaks of her own in the second set to force a decider, completely flipping the script. Then, in the third, she took control midway through, securing a vital hold in the sixth game after a wild run of three consecutive breaks. It all came down to converting her fourth match point, sealing a nervy victory in just under two and a half hours. What a battle!
The Bartoli Effect and Home Crowd Vibe
This win feels different, and a big part of that has to be the new team vibe. Dart immediately ran to celebrate with her crew, which now includes none other than 2013 Wimbledon champion Marion Bartoli. They linked up in January, and you can already see the results: a run to the quarter-finals at July’s Challenger in Vancouver and qualifying for the Cincinnati Open in August. Dart herself said Bartoli’s experience is huge. “From her experience, she knows what I’m going through, how I’m feeling,” Dart mentioned. “To be able to soak up everything, all of her experience, and learn from her, I feel I’m learning so much every time we speak.” Plus, New York really is a “home away from home” for Dart. Her parents, uncle, and several cousins were all there roaring her on, making it feel like a true “community” with all that support. You can tell she’s feeling motivated and is improving!
This win is massive for Dart, especially after not qualifying for four of the last six Grand Slams and falling at the first hurdle in the past two Wimbledons. She even took the scenic route through three-set thrillers in all her US Open qualifying matches. Now, she’s riding that momentum straight into the second round where she’ll face 25th seed Marie Bouzkova. Let’s see if she can keep this incredible run going!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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