Sports
Harriet Dart fights back the tears to beat Katie Boulter at Wimbledon
Harriet Dart turned tears of despair into joy as she moved into the third round at Wimbledon for the first time in five years after stunning Katie Boulter in an entertaining all-British tussle.
The British No 2 fought from a set down to claim her first win over her compatriot in the last four attempts, eventually sealing a 4-6, 6-1, 7-6 (10-8) win after fighting back in a thrilling final set tie-break.
In a match that was at times low on quality – the pair coughed up a total of 110 unforced errors – Boulter was four points away from victory after going 6-2 up in the tiebreak.
But Dart, who became visibly emotional just as she thought the match was slipping away, dug deep to produce one of the biggest wins of her career.
Dart and Boulter shared a frosty meeting at last month’s Nottingham Open when the former took issue over a line call en route to falling short against Boulter, but there was no repeat of such drama in a competitive encounter that had a business-like feel from start to finish.
“I knew it was going to be a really tough battle; we only played each other a few weeks ago. I wear my emotions on my sleeve,” said Dart. “My head to head is absolutely woeful against her, but even though I was down in that tiebreak I thought, ‘Let’s give it everything I’ve got.’”
Harriet Dart knocks out Katie Boulter – as it happened
04:10 PM BST
That unforced error count …
Was 110, Boulter’s tally 75, Dart’s 35.
04:09 PM BST
Harriet Dart speaks oncourt
I knew it was going to be a tough battle. I wear my emotions on my sleeve as you can see. Thank you so much for the support. My head to head is woeful against her so I tried my best. Even though I was down in the tiebreak I thought ‘no regrets’ and I was able to battle through. So nice to get my first big win on a stadium court in front of a home crowd, it’s been surreal.
04:06 PM BST
From tears to cheers
Trailing 6-2, Dart was wiping tears away under her cap and the crowd sensed she was upset. She’s done well to dag herself back into this.. after a contest that has been riddled with unforced errors what a thrilling end to the match we had on our hands!
03:57 PM BST
Dart 4-6, 6-1, 7-6(8) Boulter
Boulter holds her serve when Dart’s backhand return is chopped into the net. 1-0
Dart holds her first service point when Boulter cuffs a forehand return into the net but then double fault for the mini-break. 2-1
Dart mini-breaks back by virtue of Boulter’s sloppy backhand. 2-2.
Nice slice volley winner keeps it on serve at 3-2 Boulter.
Boulter smacks a forehand winner off a floaty second serve earns her another mini-break before they change ends. 4-2.
Boulter again exploits a second serve to move Dart around in a rally before whipping a forehand winner. 5-2
Dart, who seems to be trying to focus by rubbing her temples and is demonstrably emotional now, flaps a backhand into the net. There are tears at 6-2. So near and yet so far. She was a break up.
One break back, though, after a bold rally when Boulter drives a backhand into the net. 6-3.
Another backhand forced error from Boulter makes it 6-4 and Dart holds on her second serve when Boulter thrashes a crosscourt forehand return miles wide. 6-5.
Mini-break back when Boulter tries to drive a forehand winner deep into Dart’s ad court but overcooks it. 6-6.
Boulter aims for Dart’s feet then comes to the net to hammer a volley winner. 7-6. On serve.
Boulter can’t return the serve, 7-7.
Unforced error No73 for Boulter on her forehand gives Dart the lead at 7-8 but still on serve.
Mini-break for Boulter after an epic rally. Dart was trading blows until her backhand lob drifts too long 8-8.
Mini-break back when Boulter’s forehand fails. Match point Dart. 8-9
Game, set and match Dart when Boulter frames a foprehand. 10-8 in the breaker.
03:49 PM BST
Dart 4-6, 6-1, 6-6 Boulter
Boulter carts her forehand return into the tramlines, 15-love. And then hooks her forehand return into the net, 30-love. She fares no better with a backhand return, slicing it wide. And she holds to love when once again Boulter cam’t get her return over.
Time for a 10-point tiebreak.
03:47 PM BST
Dart* 4-6, 6-1, 5-6 Boulter
An ace and a forehand winner get Boulter off to a good start but then Dart piles a forehand winner of her own as the two also trade forced forehand errors too move to 40-30. Then Boulter flays a backhand too long and we go to deuce.
Break point as Boulter’s unforced error count keeps climbing. Boult defends it superbly after the match’s longest rally, trading blows until she strums a forehand winner. Dart’s forehand finds the net and Boulter has the advantage and she holds when Dart nets her return.
Dart has to hold to stay in the match and tournament.
03:39 PM BST
Dart 4-6, 6-1, 5-5 Boulter*
Boulter frames a return off her forehand and looks up to her camp in the box to curse her luck. Dart did that too at the end of the previous game. At 30-love, Dart double faults for the 11th time but Boulter gifts her the game with yet more unforced errors which now stand at 66 for KB and 32 for HD.
Both players have given their all and they could do with a physical power-up.
03:35 PM BST
Dart* 4-6, 6-1, 4-5 Boulter
At 15-all, Boulter double faults for the ninth time but levels it up when Dart knocks a backhand out. A gunslinging rally ensues which Boulter wins with a forehand crosscourt winner, painting the line, followed by a lovely backhand drive up the line. Boulter holds with the new balls, finding her groove again.
03:30 PM BST
Dart 4-6, 6-1, 4-4 Boulter*
The crowd is marginally more split in Boulter’s favour and the tension seeps out into a broad delight when Boulter trusts her forehand and powers a pair of winners, killing Dart’s second serve to go to 15-40.
But then the forehand lets her down twice again with wild returns off first serves that fly between 50cm and 1m out. Deuce.
Must be infuriating not to be able to rely on it because she goes to advantage with a brilliant forehand drive moments after it squandered her first two break points. Here’s a third … and she wins this one on her backhand.
Break back.
03:24 PM BST
Dart* 4-6, 6-1, 4-3 Boulter
Boulter’s unforced errors hit 60 as she loses two points on the trot to make it 15-30 and again at 30-all she spears a rudimentary backhand at what should have been the opening stage of a rally too wide.
Break point. Boulter defends it after three firm groundstrokes and moves to advantage when her confidence seemingly returns. But Dart fights back with a forehand cross that makes Boulter scramble from forehand corner to backhand where she was unable to get it back.
Boulter smokes a forehand winner to take it to advantage and then comes to the net when Dart leaves a forehand short. Dart tries the lob but arcs it too long.
Hold. Anxious one but a hold nonetheless.
03:16 PM BST
Dart 4-6, 6-1, 4-2 Boulter*
And after all that drama, Dart holds to love. That’s the way to back up a break.
Wow, another marathon game! I’ve lost count of the number of break points Dart had there.. was it seven? It went on for an eternity but Dart finally converts to break the British No 1. As both players walk back to their chairs Dart has her head down under her cap. She’s locked well and truly into this battle – if she can keep this up she’ll earn only her second win over her compatriot.
03:13 PM BST
Dart* 4-6, 6-1, 3-2 Boulter
Dart raises both arms to conduct the crowd and raise the volume when she plays a sliced, backhand dropshot winner to lead 30-15 after her backhand withstood the sternest test.
Boulter’s forehand drifts wide and Dart has two break points. Boulter defends the first with a kicking serve to the widest, legal part of the court. And she saves the second as well with an unreturnable serve up the T.
At deuce Boulter’s backhand drop floats side. Can Dart take the third break point? Nope.
Boulter’s sloppy forehand gives her a fourth. Boulter defends it with a fizzing second serve but Dart will have a fifth as Boulter finds the net, this time, for variety with a backhand.
A fifth save as this game goes into its ninth minute. It’s a gritty match but littered with errors. Dart’s backhand mistake and Boulter’s forehand seesaw it back to deuce once more.
That’s better … Boulter cuffs a backhand winner up the line to give her game point until she nets her straightforward forehand. Back to deuce. Back to reality.
Now Boulter chips a backhand into the net. Break point number six. And this one she takes when Boulter pulls her forehand too long and, though she challenges the umpire’s call, it was 2cm out and Dart finally breaks.
Impossible to tell which way this one is going. Boulter has rediscovered her serve, which is looking a lot more stable and less erratic than earlier. The British No 1 suffered a second set wobble in her first round match against Tatjana Maria two days ago, so she’s shown she can dig herself out of sticky situations. But you sense she’s going to have to come up with something special to dismantle Dart, who still has momentum on her side and has injected more firepower into her forehands.
02:59 PM BST
Dart 4-6, 6-1, 2-2 Boulter*
Boulter monsters Dart’s second serve and fires a blistering crosscourt forehand winner. And then the No1 wins the second and third points, too, at the end of longer rallies, by pushing Dart deep into her deuce court and standing behind the baseline to watch her forehands sail long.
At 15-40, Boulter wastes her first opportunity to break by lifting her forehand crosscourt too far and also chucks away her second with a forehand up the tramlines.
Dart comes to the net to whip a forehand winner to move to advantage having isolated Dart wide on her backhand side. But Boulter takes it back to deuce with another rasping return off Dart’s second serve which looks like her achilles heel.
Having said that, she then wins a point on a 68mph second serve when Boulter’s forehand fails again. Now Dart squanders advantage by chipping a drop shot into the net with two-thirds of the court at her mercy.
Advantage Boulter when she reads a backhand drop shot and smacks it back up the line but Dart exposes Boulter’s shonky forehand in this game to take us to deuce for a fourth time.
Boulter’s’s forehand when whipped from the T to the deuce court is OK, When she has to hit it to the other side, it keeps going out and Hart duly moves to advantage.
Boulter, as the game enters its 12th minute, whips a forehand winner but this time from deuce Boulter’s two unforced forehand errors allow Dart to hold.
02:46 PM BST
Dart* 4-6, 6-1, 1-2 Boulter
This match is heating up a touch now but Boulter is still struggling with the error count. Dart just has to keep the ball in the court at the moment and more often than not Boulter will do the work for her.
Boulter has game points but fails to put away the dry volley and Dart pounces, making it awkward for Boulter who then goes long with a backhand.
She holds with a bullet forehand and this set remains on serve.
02:41 PM BST
Dart 4-6, 6-1, 1-1 Boulter*
Bang, bang from Dart as she shows she’s not for backing down in this deciding set. Quickly she gets to 40-0 but Boulter then punishes a pair of weak serves from Dart.
Dart holds her nerve though and holds.
02:38 PM BST
Dart* 4-6, 6-1, 0-1 Boulter
Boulter comes out firing after taking a break between sets. Ace, then big forehand winner…that’s more like it. Dart will not be outgunned though, lashing a forehand crosscourt to which only Boulter can get the frame of her racket.
The point of the match so far. Boulter comes out on top after the pair exchange lobs at the net before engaging in some heavy hitting from the back of the court.
She holds.
02:35 PM BST
Caption competition…
02:32 PM BST
Dart 4-6, 6-1 Boulter*
A bird landing on the court provides some levity for the crowd but that’s not what Katie Boulter needs right now. She just needs to find something…anything to get her form back.
Dart slides into a backhand pass down the line and then sets up two set points. She needs only one and we’re going to decider.
After breaking Dart to finally get on the board in this second set, Boulter has struggled to capitalise on the mini momentum shift. It’s been impressive stuff from Dart, who has completely taken charge. Even the bird flying around the court – which sparked great amusement among the crowd as it momentarily left the grass to perch on top of the roof – could not distract her from closing out this one-sided set (a shout out to the ball boy who expertly chased it away).
02:28 PM BST
Dart* 4-6, 5-1 Boulter
Boulter was handed a game there but can she haul herself back into this set even further? A drop shot goes awry to start the game but then a good forehand winner follows. That’s more like it from Boulter.
But then a double fault and a poor slice follow…she looks all at sea here. She saves the first of Dart’s two break points but then goes wide with a backhand and Harriet Dart will serve for the second set.
02:23 PM BST
Dart 4-6, 4-1 Boulter*
Darts puts far too much air on an attempted drop shot and it’s an easy pass for Boulter but the British No 1 then goes long again for a forehand. Her strongest shot has suddenly become an Achilles’ heel.
Speaking of Achilles’ heels, there’s a pair of lesser-spotted double faults from Dart and suddenly Boulter has a chance to break back.
THREE DOUBLE FAULTS IN A ROW AND BOULTER BREAKS!
Both women have been probing each other with long, powerful ball striking from the baseline for much of this match. There hasn’t been a great deal of variation in their shotmaking so far and it hasn’t always been the best for quality.. there’s been 11 double faults between them so far. That said, Dart’s deft volley at the net to land a breakpoint was met with a huge roar from someone in the crowd. She’s got a spring in her step in this second set after finally breaking Boulter’s resistance.
02:19 PM BST
Dart* 4-6, 4-0 Boulter
Error after error after error from Boulter. Easy points for Harriet Dart, who has just upped her game a touch but not a crazy amount. You couldn’t say with any confidence that Boulter was firing on all cylinders in the set she won and those cracks are now being exposed by Dart.
Now a double fault…and Harriet Dart has three chances at a double break here in the second. She saves one…then two but can do nothing about third as Dart plays the shot of the match after a thunderous forehand winner.
Boulter is in the mire now.
02:13 PM BST
Dart 4-6, 3-0 Boulter*
Dart is dominating from the back of the court here so she looks seething when she nets an easy forehand with the court at her mercy. Boulter though looks slightly out of sync, netting a succession of forehands you’d normally see her make with ease.
Darts holds and there are some warning signs for the British No 1 here.
Dart raised her arms to the crowd as she headed back to her chair, armed with a 3-0 lead in this set. She wants them on her side, but there’s a chorus of ‘Come on, Katie!’ cries that ring out during the next passage of play. Fresh from the pair’s frosty meeting at last month’s Nottingham Open, where Dart took issue with a line judge over a call, is she trying to get into Boulter’s mind?
02:12 PM BST
Dart* 4-6, 2-0 Boulter
Double fault from Boulter before she nets with a forehand. Early chance for Dart this. Bouncing on her toes in between points – she looks far more active at the start of this second set.
Boulter then looks tentative from the back of the court, opting for a lobbed forehand rather than a flat one after a loopy dart forehand. She loses the point after a neat drop shot from Dart. Three break points…she needs just one.
Advantage Harriet Dart at the start of this set.
02:07 PM BST
Dart 4-6, 1-0 Boulter*
A key game for Harriet Dart you feel. Lose this one and the whole deck of cards could collapse fairly swiftly.
She holds after forcing a few errors from Boulter. Excellent from the British No 2.
02:03 PM BST
Dart* 4-6 Boulter
Dart’s frustration is starting to bubble up to the surface. She’s remonstrating with her team after Boulter wrong foots her to start the game. Dart is now approaching the umpire to query something, not quite sure what but it’s defused very quickly.
Double fault from Boulter now. She’s just two points from this first set and will want this to be as stress free as possible. A forehand winner will certainly help on that front. Two set points for Boulter…she needs just one.
Katie Boulter wins the first set 6-4.
01:58 PM BST
Dart 4-5 Boulter*
A stunning backhand lob from Dart draws applause even from Boulter. That was truly sumptuous and she follows up with a series of good points to take full control of her service game.
Boulter responds though, moving Dart from side to side before putting away an easy volley at the net. Dart’s double fault issue rear it’s head again and suddenly we’re back at deuce before a body serve gives her game point.
ANOTHER DOUBLE FAULT THOUGH…her seventh already. Boulter then senses Dart is fretting on her second serve and lays into a return, leading Dart to go long and setting up a set point.
Saved by Dart! Before Boulter goes long with a forehand. Dart then has an easy put away at the net and asks Boulter the question to serve out the set.
On a general election day, it’s hard to guess who the crowd are voting for in this all-British duel, although there was an audible groan from the crowd when Dart double faulted twice in quick succession, so maybe they’re for the underdog. Her shoulders slumped a bit but she regained her composure to hold.
01:51 PM BST
Dart* 3-5 Boulter
Just signs perhaps that Boulter is just starting to click on her forehead. Far better rhythm and cleaner striking is getting Dart on the scramble early in rallies. The umpire overrules the line judge, calling Dart’s forehand out at the baseline. She challenges but it’s miles long – not sure how the lie judge missed it – and Boulter has three game points.
Dart takes one away but then goes long on her forehand return and Boulter is a game away from taking the first set.
01:46 PM BST
Dart 3-4 Boulter*
Dart is really struggling with her serve. A fourth double fault at this point in a match is a concerning statistic. She recovers well though, finally finding a good first serve down the middle before putting away a forehand at an acute angle.
01:43 PM BST
Dart* 2-4 Boulter
Better from Boulter. Three first serves, three quick points. Keep that percentage high and you’ll always give yourself a big advantage. Dart then goes long when trying to return a well-directed body serve on second serve. Break consolidated.
01:39 PM BST
Dart 2-3 Boulter*
The intensity has picked up but neither player could claim to be hitting their straps yet. Dart double faults for a third time in the match already, while Boulter remains erratic from the back of the court, especially on her forehand.
She works her way to a break point through as Dart finds the net with a backhand. That chance goes begging though after some good serving by Dart but soon the door is ajar again for Boulter and this time she walks through it.
Katie Boulter breaks here in the first set.
01:35 PM BST
Dart* 2-2 Boulter
Boulter looks at her best when she is able to set herself in the middle of the court and dictate points with her heavy groundstrokes. She does that down 0-30 before Dart goes wide with a forehand to cede her advantage in the game.
Double fault from Boulter though and it’s Dart who has the first look at a break point here on Court No 1. Boulter answers the call though, grabbing control of the point before wrong-footing Dart with a mid-court forehand.
The British No 1 works her way to game point but double faults to keep Dart alive and the goes long after a hard-hitting exchange at the back of the court. Boulter saves the second break point of the game though, going wide to Dart’s backhand in the deuce court before putting away a forehand with ease.
Eight minutes for this game and Boulter makes a strange decision to pattercake an easy put-away backhand giving Dart the chance to find a volley winner. That should have been point over for Boulter but she then does well to save a third break point as Dart nets an easy forehand.
Another game point then goes begging for Boulter as this game trundles on. Dart nets a forehand return…is this the moment for Boulter? IT IS…relief for the British No 1 as she holds.
That felt extraordinarily…long. We’ve had four games in 27 minutes in this match. To put that into context, an hour ago on Court 18, Daria Kasatkina only needed 19 minutes to wrap up the first set in her double bagel victory over Britain’s Lily Miyazaki. Boulter has had more venom in her shotmaking but there’s been too many times when she’s over-egged it, but she’s now over the line after saving three break points.
01:20 PM BST
Dart 2-1 Boulter*
The tension from both these players is palpable and their play is showing it. Both look tight in these early stanzas. Dart starts this game with a double fault and is having real problems with her ball toss before Boulter ploughs an easy return off second serve into the bottom of the net. Hard to remember that has been ‘won’ thus far as opposed to ‘given away’.
Boulter gets a slice of luck with a fortunate net cord and pulls the game to deuce and that seems to wake up Dart, who finds a couple of good forehands before dispatching a dry volley at the net.After an unforced error, she again gets to game point after a well-constructed point and then holds after a good serve.
01:14 PM BST
Dart* 1-1 Boulter
Quickfire points from Boulter get her to 30-0 in her first service game. This match has not really got going yet and there are still plenty of errors coming from both players.
That sequence continues but this time it’s Dart racking up the errors as Boulter holds.
There’s a lovely hushed murmur around Court 1, which has been gradually filling up for the first all-British affair of the day ahead of Cam Norrie and Jack Draper later. Boulter has started solidly – she’s certainly looked the more aggressive with her serve.
01:11 PM BST
First set: Dart 1-0 Boulter* (*denotes next server)
Couple of early unforced errors from Boulter hand Dart an easy start in her opening service game but she then doubles faults. Jitters from both you feel in a match where early holds will be the order of the day.
Dart does holds after a total of four unforced errors from Boulter.
01:06 PM BST
Harriet Dart will serve first…
…we are moments away from the off.
01:04 PM BST
The warm-up is underway
Katie Boulter is having a superb time on the grass thus far. She is currently tied for the most wins on the surface this season with eight and will move into a clear lead should she win this afternoon.
01:01 PM BST
Here come the players…
…Court No 1 is filling up quickly.
12:53 PM BST
Boulter vs Dart – a history
Last time these two met – a 3hr 13min 7-6 (7-5), 4-6,5-7 win for Boulter in Nottingham – Dart had some choice words for umpire on the day, Kelly Rask. Dart called Rask ‘embarrassing’ after a disagreement over a contested line call and was threatened with a code violation.
The previous year rin their meeting at the same event, Dart called Boulter ‘unprofessional’ after suggesting the latter had celebrated by pointing her finger to her temple after a 6-3, 7-5 win. Dart suggested this was being directed at her players’ box accusation Boulter denied.
There is plenty of spice out there this afternoon.
12:43 PM BST
Elsewhere this morning
Out on Court No 2, the 7th seed in the men’s draw Hubert Hurkacz is in trouble against France’s Arthur Fils. A set down already, Fils is currently serving for a two set lead over the Pole.
Elsewhere, there is some good news pre-match where Boulter is concerned, with boyfriend Alex de Minaur two sets and a double break up on Spain’s Jaume Munar.
12:31 PM BST
‘We know each other inside out’
Katie Boulter speaking to BBC 5 Live Sport: “To play a British player on the grass is never going to be easy. It’s going to be a tough match. We know each other inside out, back to front or we know what to expect. It’s going to be about who can deliver on the day. I’m going to fight, she’s going to fight and I think it’s going to be fun for everyone to watch.
“I’m just looking forward to having another opportunity to play at Wimbledon. It’s never taken for granted that I’m through to the second round so hopefully I can push on and continue the momentum.”
12:24 PM BST
Friends. Team-mates….rivals
12:21 PM BST
Good form
Boulter had to show plenty of fight in the first round to get past an awkward opponent in Tatjana Maria. She won in straight sets but you could not say there was a comfortable moment for the British No 1.
Conversely, Dart produced a smooth performance when easing past Chinese qualifier Bai Zhuoxuan. The 6-4, 6-0 triumph advertised the very best Dart has to offer and similar levels this afternoon’s will doubtless cause Boulter problems.
12:16 PM BST
Boulter vs Dart: head-to-head
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Glasgow (2016) – Round of 32: Boulter 6-1 6-4
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Perth (2017) – Qualifying: Boulter 6-1 7-5
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Clare (2017) – Round of 32: Boulter 6-2 6-2
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Gifu (2018) – Round of 32: Dart 6-2 7-5
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Nottingham (2023) – Quarter-finals: Boulter 6-3 7-5
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Paris (2024) – Round of 32: Boulter 6-0 6-4
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Nottingham (2024) – Round of 32: Boulter 6-7 [5] 6-4 7-5
12:13 PM BST
All-British clash
Amid all the well-deserved fanfare for the performance of Emma Raducanu on Court No 1 yesterday, it’s easy to forget that the top-ranked British women is also in action this week.
Katie Boulter is five times the price of Raducanu with some bookmakers despite having beaten her in the semi-final of the Nottingham Open just last month.
She negotiated a tough first-round match against last year’s semi-finalist Tatjana Maria but things are not about to get any easier. This afternoon, compatriot Harriet Dart is the player standing in her way.
Close friends and contemporaries, collegiate allegiances will be firmly put to one side this afternoon with a place in the third round up for grabs.
BOulter has never got beyond the third round at SW19 and, in truth, failing to do so again this fortnight would represent something of a disappointment.
For all her stark growth over the past two years, Boulter’s record at Grand Slams remains poor, while Raducanu – who has spent the same period yo-yoing up and down the rankings – has the trump card of US Open title safely stored in her back pocket.
To break Raducanu’s stranglehold on the narrative of British women’s tennis, Boulter needs her own signature moment and a deep run at Wimbledon would be ideal.
Dart, like Boulter, has struggled to make her mark on the biggest stage but she has maintained her position in the top 100 after breaking that particular barrier last year and will thus present a stern test of Boulter’s metal.
That said, Boulter does own the head-to-head between the pair 6-1. In truth, she should win at a canter.
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