It’s official: the US Open singles draws just saw the final British hopes crash out, with Harriet Dart and Francesca Jones battling hard but ultimately falling. What started as the biggest British showing in the main draws since 1981 ended with zero players left standing in the second round. Seriously, nine players in the main draws and not a single one makes it past round two? That’s a tough pill to swallow.
The Last Stand Falls Flat Under Pressure
Man, talk about a tough day in New York. Harriet Dart, ranked 131st in the world, went down 6-2, 6-2 to Czech 25th seed Marie Bouzkova. Dart admitted she felt “under the weather” and had a “temperature,” struggling after playing “many weeks in a row.” The 30C heat in New York definitely didn’t help, even if she was trying to cool down with ice towels and cold-air hoses. But then she mentioned going from “really hot outside to freezing inside” with the AC constantly blasting. And seriously, 8 double faults and only 45% first serves? That’s just brutal on the stat sheet. Bouzkova, to her credit, was locked in, winning seven straight games to clinch the first set and go a double break up in the second. Dart just couldn’t recover.
Meanwhile, Francesca Jones, ranked 90 places below her opponent, put up a serious fight against 14th seed and rising American star Iva Jovic. Jones took Jovic to an hour and 54 minutes of grueling play, pushing her in both sets before falling 6-4, 6-4. The humid conditions meant both players were constantly dashing to the back of the court to dry off. Jovic got off to a quick start with a double break and a 3-0 lead, controlling the rallies, but Jones snatched a break back and kept fighting. She couldn’t convert a break point when Jovic served for the set, though. In the second, Jovic again raced to a 4-1 lead, only for Jones to drag her back, saving three match points on her own serve. Jovic finally sealed it with one of her best service games. Jones said it best after the match: “It’s not like I was outclassed… It was just half-chances. It’s frustrating, but it’s pretty clear my level is there.” You gotta love that grit and self-belief even in a tough loss.
The Full British Exodus Hits Hard
But it wasn’t just Dart and Jones. This was a full-on British exodus from the singles draws! Nine players hit the main draws, the most since 1981, with four even clawing their way through qualifying. Five made it to the second round , that’s something, right? , but every single one of them got bounced by a seeded player. Jacob Fearnley was the *only* Brit to even snatch a set, falling in four to 27th seed Tomas Martin Etcheverry. Qualifier Toby Samuel got knocked out by 18th seed Jiri Lehecka, and Katie Boulter got absolutely dismantled in 58 minutes by Wimbledon runner-up Karolina Muchova. In the men’s bracket, Cameron Norrie, Arthur Fery, Harry Wendelken, and Jan Choinski all said goodbye in the first round. Tough draws, for sure, but you want to see some of these players push through.
So, the dream of a British singles contender at the US Open is officially done for 2026. For Jovic, it’s a date with her good friend Alexandra Eala in the third round. Bouzkova gets Polish eighth seed Iga Swiatek next. But for the Brits? It’s back to the drawing board after this brutal early exit. You gotta respect the fight from Jones, showing her level is “there.” But man, when you send nine players to the show and zero make it past round two, that’s a tough pill to swallow. You hope they learn from this, because that kind of talent deserves to go deeper.
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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