Harriet Dart is on track to re-enter the top 100 rankings following her victory over fifth seed Elisabetta Cocciaretto in the quarter-finals of the Transylvania Open.
The individual, aged 27, who advanced through the preliminary rounds, bounced back from losing the first set and being down 3-0 to win 5-7, 7-5, 6-3 in Cluj-Napoca. This marks the fifth occasion that Dart has reached the quarterfinals of a WTA Tour tournament, but it is her first time achieving this on a surface other than British grass. Her previous quarterfinal appearance was at Birmingham last summer.
After starting the week at 103, Dart is now highly likely to enter the top 100 alongside fellow British athletes Katie Boulter and Jodie Burrage. This follows her drop in rankings last year. Dart seemed to be on her way out when she failed to convert three set points at 5-4 in the first set and then lost six consecutive games.
However, she fought her way back and seized her third opportunity to win the second set. Despite taking a break for a neck injury, she maintained her lead in the final set.
Dart stated, “I had several opportunities in the first set, but was unable to capitalize. However, I believe she performed well during critical moments.”
“In tennis, the margins are very narrow. Despite the score being 3-0, there is always a possibility and one must continue to fight. I was given a small opportunity and I seized it. My goal is to improve with each match. It has been a wonderful experience playing multiple matches in the qualifying rounds and getting accustomed to the surface. I am thoroughly enjoying my time in Cluj.”
Dart is set to face the unseeded Spaniard Nuria Párrizas Díaz in hopes of securing a spot in the semi-finals.
British tennis player Heather Watson’s participation in the Abu Dhabi Open ended in the round of 16. After an impressive victory against Veronika Kudermetova, ranked 16th in the world, in the previous round, Watson was defeated 7-6 (1), 7-5 by Spanish player Cristina Bucsa, who entered the tournament as a lucky loser.
