US Open 2024: Harriet Dart secures dominant opening round victory in Flushing Meadows
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Great Britain’s Harriet Dart has matched her tournament best run of second round at the US Open after dismantling France’s Chloe Paqueta 6-1, 6-2.
Dart’s victory over the Frenchwoman marks her second main draw victory at Flushing Meadows, after she took down 10 seeded Daria Kasatkina in three sets back in 2022.
The British No.3 has hit a purple patch of form in recent months, having reached the third round at Wimbledon and coming through qualifying to make the main draw at the National Bank Open and Cincinnati Open.
Now, the 28-year-old has made a bright start in the final Grand Slam of the season, thanks to a new but familiar addition to her team.
With her coach Olga Morozova opting to stay in the UK for this year’s US hard court swing, Dart’s mum Suzie has taken up the reins since the start of the Cincinnati Open and has proved to be a lucky charm for the Brit so far.
“It’s a different dynamic, that’s for sure,” Dart said following her first round win.
“We’ve only had one argument so that’s good. It’s just little things and I think it’s easier when it’s your mum because two minutes later you’re all fine. It’s been nice to have her, she knows me really well.
“She can hit with me a little bit and she’s played so she understands a lot of things and she’s been around Olga (Morozova) a lot, so it’s nice to have her around.
“She hasn’t been with me very much since I was a junior. She says her role is feeding balls, and throwing me balls, but there’s much more to it than that. She’s been helping me a lot.”
The Brit was in control from the get go in her opening round encounter against Frenchwoman. With her foot on the accelerator, Dart reeled off the opening four games and saved three break points along the way, before Paquet eventually held serve in the fifth game.
Despite the Frenchwoman trying to force her way into the match, Dart continued to carry the momentum with her as she wrapped up the opening set with another break to love.
Into the second set and the Briton looked to pick up where she left off. With another break of serve secured for the Brit, a mid-set wobble saw her let Paquet back in to draw back level. However, Dart soon regained control - winning the next three games on the bounce before closing out victory on her second match point.
This win will now carry Dart into the world’s top 70 for the first time in her career, as she prepares to face a bigger challenge in the form of 19 seed Marta Kostyuk on Wednesday.
Elsewhere, British qualifier Jan Choinski came out on the losing side of a five-set epic against Spain's Roberto Carablles Baena, while Katie Boulter, Emma Raducanu, Jack Draper and Dan Evans all gear up to contest their first round matches on Tuesday evening.
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