Wimbledon 2024 results: Harriet Dart beats Katie Boulter after Lily Miyazaki defeat

Harriet Dart burst into tears in the final set tie-break but fought back to upset British number one Katie Boulter and reach the third round of Wimbledon.

World number 94 Dart had to rally when trailing 6-2 in the breaker but won eight of the last 10 points to eliminate the 32nd seed.

Boulter’s forehand, usually his main weapon, became increasingly erratic in windy conditions on Court One as Dart won 4-6 6-1 7-6 (10-8) in just under three hours.

“I wear my emotions on my sleeve so you can see everything I’m thinking, unfortunately, but I’m so happy to be able to get through it,” Dart said.

“My head-to-head against Katie Boulter was absolutely dismal, so I didn’t expect much, but at the same time I just did my best and even though I was down in the tie-break I thought to myself: ‘give it your all, no regrets’ and I’m really happy I was able to fight.”

The 27-year-old will next face unseeded Chinese Wang Xiyu.

“I had a tough day at the office, unfortunately I didn’t play my best tennis today,” Boulter said. “But that’s what happens sometimes. I just have to take it easy. She played well.”

It is the second time in less than a month that the British numbers one and two have engaged in a marathon battle, after Boulter beat Dart in Nottingham in three hours and 13 minutes to claim a third WTA Tour title.

She was a clear favourite but paid the price for her 75 unforced errors, failing to reach the last 16 for the third consecutive year.

Born just four days apart, Dart and Boulter know each other’s game inside out and both players appeared nervous as the tension was replicated in the crowd, which had no obvious player to support.

During the match, Dart created the most chances and Boulter almost got over the line despite herself, only to falter when she appeared to have taken control in the tie-break.

A single break of serve gave Boulter the opening set, after Dart was unable to convert three chances to earn the first break in the fifth game.

Boulter’s level dropped alarmingly in the second set and she failed to hold serve in three attempts as Dart quickly levelled the match.

The deciding match was a tight one, lasting 94 minutes. Boulter had the early chances but made three forehand errors on break points before Dart broke on his sixth break point at 2-2, when another forehand from his opponent went awry.

Leading 4-2, Dart had a point for a double break but Boulter saved it and then levelled at 4-4 with a backhand down the line as they headed to a 10-point tie-break.

When Dart had to wipe tears from her eyes at the baseline, trailing 6-2, defeat was imminent, but she persisted and Boulter’s forehand crumbled again as she lost to a British woman on the main tour for the first time.