British hopeful Harriet Dart thrashed by Maria Sharapova

British hopeful Harriet Dart thrashed by Maria Sharapova without winning a game in Australian Open first-round

Harriet Dart was given a brutal lesson by Maria Sharapova after she was thrown in at the deep end for her Australian Open main draw debut.

The 22 year-old Londoner, who came through the qualifying event, was given the dreaded ‘double bagel’ when she went down 6-0, 6-0 to the former world No 1 in 63 minutes.

Heather Watson had by then already made a swift exit, going down 6-1, 6-2 to Petra Martic in only 64 minutes, having started slightly earlier. 

Maria Sharapova powers a forehand across court during her win over Harriet Dart

With temperatures quickly heading towards the 90s Dart was one of a bumper seven British players in action on the first day, with the three women all going off first before Dan Evans, Kyle Edmund, Cameron Norrie and, of course, Andy Murray.

Dart came through the qualifying event but the lack of potency on her serve was always going to be exposed by such a fearsome returner as the Russian, and so it proved. 

It was a tough baptism on the main Rod Laver Arena of Melbourne Park, totally new territory for her.

The Middlesex player’s backhand is a good shot and she was competitive in the rallies, but usually from a point of weakness as Sharapova trampled all over her serve.

The Russian takes on fluids on a boiling hot day in the Melbourne sun on Monday

The Russian takes on fluids on a boiling hot day in the Melbourne sun on Monday

Dart received the benefit of seven double faults from her opponent and threatened to break a couple of times but the gulf in class and experience was all too evident. 

It will, at least, show her the kind of improvement that is going to be required if she is going to continue her progress towards the world’s top 100, but she appeared she was emotional as she walked off court at the end.

The gradual slide in Watson’s career continues and she could make no impression on the 31st seed from Croatia, offering little resistance as she became the first player to go out of the 2019 tournament.

Without arresting her decline, which has seen her drop out of the top 100, the Guernsey player will not be able to get straight into Grand Slam main draws, and only marginally made this one. 

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