Nottingham Open: Harriet Dart beats Camila Giorgi to reach first WTA quarter-final

2 years ago 37

Britain's Harriet Dart saved three match points to stun third seed Camila Giorgi at the Nottingham Open and reach her first WTA quarter-final.

The match was tied at a set apiece before rain stopped play on Wednesday, and the two had a lengthy wait to go on court on Thursday.

However, Dart produced a superb tie-break performance to beat the 26th-ranked Italian 5-7 6-4 7-6 (7-3).

"I can't quite believe it, especially saving those match points," Dart said.

The 25-year-old, ranked 114 in the world, will face sixth seed Alison Riske of America next.

Dart slipped to 0-40 down on her serve with Giorgi leading 5-4, but managed to find a way through before dominating the tie-break.

"It's my first quarter-final so to be able to do it on home soil is pretty special," Dart said.

"Thank you to the crowd - you really helped me get through that."

Dart is the only Briton left in the women's draw after Katie Boulter lost 6-3 6-4 to Australia's Ajla Tomljanovic late on Thursday evening.

Top seed Maria Sakkari fought past Canada's Rebecca Marino 1-6 6-3 6-3 between the showers.

She will play Brazilian seventh seed Beatriz Haddad Maia, who beat Britain's Lily Miyazaki 6-2 7-6 (7-4) in the first match of the day.

In the men's Challenger event, Britain's Liam Broady fought back to beat Finland's Otto Virtanen 2-6 7-5 6-2 and reach the quarter-finals.

However, compatriot Jay Clarke lost 6-4 6-4 to Jordan Thompson of Australia.

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