Key facts
- Dart defeated Peyton Stearns 3–6, 6–3, 6–2 in the US Open first round
- First Grand Slam main-draw win in 19 months; last came at 2025 Australian Open
- Came back from a set and a break down; match took just under 2.5 hours
- Stearns had 40 winners but 47 unforced errors
- Dart (ranked 131) faces 25th seed Marie Bouzkova in round 2
- Now coached by Marion Bartoli, 2013 Wimbledon champion, since January
The match and the comeback
Harriet Dart defeated American Peyton Stearns 3–6, 6–3, 6–2 in the first round of the US Open, advancing to the second round for the third time. The 30-year-old British player trailed by a set and a break before mounting a comeback in just under two and a half hours. Stearns, ranked more than 75 places above Dart, struggled with consistency late in the match, compiling 40 winners against 47 unforced errors.
Ending a long drought
The victory marked Dart’s first main-draw singles win at a Grand Slam in 19 months. Her previous Grand Slam win came at the 2025 Australian Open, where she reached the second round. In the interim, she failed to qualify for four of the next six Grand Slams and lost in the first round at Wimbledon in both 2025 and 2026 despite receiving wildcards on each occasion.
The match flow
Dart could not convert four break points in the opening game but was unable to apply sustained pressure in the first set. Stearns broke her twice—once in the eighth game of the opening set and again in the first game of the second set. However, Stearns’ form deteriorated as the match progressed, and Dart claimed two breaks of her own to force a deciding set. In the third set, Dart took control midway through, holding serve in the sixth game to stop three consecutive breaks, then converted her fourth match point to close out the win.
Current status and ranking
Dart is ranked 131st in the world. She will face 25th seed Marie Bouzkova in the second round at Flushing Meadows.
Working with Bartoli
Dart’s coaching team now includes Marion Bartoli, the 2013 Wimbledon champion, who joined her in January. Dart credited Bartoli’s experience, noting her guidance on mental and technical aspects of the game. This win follows a run to the quarter-finals at the July Challenger tournament in Vancouver and qualification for the Cincinnati Open in August.
Support in New York
Dart highlighted the presence of her family at the US Open, including her parents, uncle, and multiple cousins who live in or were visiting New York. She called the city a “home away from home” and credited the community atmosphere for motivating her during the match.
Sources
Featured photo: si.robi via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 2.0)