Brit tennis star Harriet Dart embraces "normality" as she chases Wimbledon first
The life of a tennis player can often involve living out of suitcases while travelling the world, and Harriet Dart is grateful that - if only for a few days - that isn't the case.
British star Dart, 26, is based in South-West London. This means the upcoming Wimbledon championships - where she has been drawn against France's Diane Parry in the first round - will only require the shortest of commutes.
Dart will also partner compatriot Heather Watson in the doubles, with the pair beginning their journey against seventh seeds Jelena Ostapenko and Lyudmyla Kichenok. In the singles, though, she has a chance to channel the home support and get beyond the third round for the first time in her career.
Speaking exclusively to Mirror Sport at ASICS' House of Tennis, Dart opens up about the value of home comforts. She recognises she is "fortunate" to stay at home, and while she admits it can bring its own challenges, the benefit of normality is clear.
"Last year was the first year I was able to [stay at home], and I was super relaxed and enjoyed the experience," the London-born pro says. "Again this year, staying at home as well, it’s nice and I feel like I have a sense of normality as well.
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"But equally I have to also remember I’m in a tournament and not in a practice setting. It’s just doing the normal things that I’d do at tournaments, doing all the right things, whether that’s treatment or practice or gym work or getting some more food in me. It’s just doing the right things every day and building on that."
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Harriet Dart has picked up some results on grass this season (Getty Images)Dart is the first to admit there have been challenges this season, with a first round defeat at the Australian Open and a loss in qualifying for Roland Garros. The start of the grass court season has brought better results, though, with quarter-final runs in both Nottingham and Birmingham.
The former was notable for seeing four British players reach the quarter-finals, paving the way for an all-British final. And, while there is only one Brit in the top 100, there are six - including Dart herself - in the top 150.
"I think what happened at Nottingham was an amazing thing and I think it was the first time in many years that a large crop of players reached the latter rounds," she acknowledges. "It definitely shows we have incredible strength in depth within women’s British tennis, and I’m sure by the end of the year that a lot of us will push our rankings up."
The British star reached the third round at SW19 in 2019 (AFP/Getty Images)After taking a set off Karolina Pliskova in her main draw debut back in 2018, Dart produced her best finish at SW19 the following year with a run to round three. That coincided with her playing her first Wimbledon as an ASICS player, and she has spoken of how that has helped.
"From 2019 I was kitted out with ASICS and I think that gave me a bit of extra confidence, and that year I made the third round," she adds. "I’ve had great prep the last few weeks, lots of matches, but playing a grand slam brings its own different challenges and unique experiences and there are also pressures that come with it regardless of whether you’re a British player or not, but more so because we’re in the spotlight during these weeks."
She expects an "incredibly challenging match" against Parry, who reached the third round in 2022 before falling to finalist Ons Jabeur. If Dart wants to make the second week for the first time, though, there could be an even bigger challenge in the form of world number one and potential third-round opponent Iga Swiatek.
A meeting with top seed Iga Swiatek could be on the cards in round three (AP)Dart is only thinking about the game in front of her, though, and isn't thinking ahead to any possible centre court chances. Indeed, thanks to the way the order of play is shaping up, she won't need a show court to enjoy healthy home support.
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"I always feel at SW19 that I’m always supported well - friends and family [will] all come and watch for sure, and the British fans toom" she adds. "I think I’m the only British player on at that time [on Monday] so hopefully I get a good hefty crowd.
"It’s no secret I’ve had a really tough year so far. Of course the last few weeks have been a step in the right direction with back to back wins at tour level.
"That’s where I want to be, and I want to build on my rankings so I don’t need to rely on a wildcard for events, so I can get back into major off slams and build day in day out on that and focus on the process and small wins, and I think the ranking then will take care of itself."
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