Dart and Burrage advance to last 16 of Eastbourne International tournament
Posted : 27 June 2023
In an impressive showing, Harriet Dart and Jodie Burrage, both British players, secured victories to advance to the last 16 of the Eastbourne International tournament.
Dart, 26, initially found herself trailing 3-0 against China's Zhang Shuai but displayed resilience to stage a comeback, winning 7-5, 6-7 (5-7), 6-1 against an opponent ranked 105 places higher in the world rankings.
Burrage, 24, faced a tough challenge against world number 44 Lauren Davis, losing the first set but ultimately prevailing with a 4-6, 6-4, 6-3 victory.
However, Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina has withdrawn from the tournament, altering the competition landscape.
Dart, despite a shaky start and fluctuating performance due to windy conditions, secured a place in the last 16. She awaits the winner between two-time Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova and former French Open winner Jelena Ostapenko, both of whom claimed titles in Berlin and Birmingham respectively on Sunday.
Reflecting on her match, Dart described it as a rollercoaster but expressed satisfaction in closing it out. She acknowledged the challenging conditions and the need to adapt.
Ranked 142nd in the world, Dart's recent successes in reaching the quarter-finals of the Nottingham Open and Birmingham Classic earned her a wildcard entry to both Wimbledon and the ongoing Eastbourne event.
Zhang, ranked 37th, initially gained an advantage, but Dart rallied by winning five of the next seven games to level the set at 5-5, saving three break points along the way. Dart secured a crucial break in the 11th game and closed out the first set.
Although she had opportunities to win the second set, she experienced serve breaks at 5-4 and 6-5, resulting in a lost tie-break. Dart, however, quickly regained her composure and dominated the decisive set.
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