Top seed Ashleigh Barty outclasses British hope Harriet Dart on Centre Court to cruise into second week of Wimbledon with 53-minute win
- Harriet Dart’s fine Wimbledon run was ended by world No 1 Ashleigh Barty
- The Australian top seed was too strong on Centre Court, winning 6-1 6-1
- It took Barty just 53 minutes to ensure her passage to the fourth round
Harriet Dart’s fine Wimbledon run ended with a bruising defeat by world No 1 Ashleigh Barty in the third round.
It was a singles debut on Centre Court for both women but the gulf was all too clear as Barty wrapped up a 6-1 6-1 victory in just 53 minutes to reach the fourth round for the first time with a 15th consecutive win.
The considerable consolation for Dart is that by reaching the third round she had far exceeded expectations and her ranking will rise from its current 182 into the top 140.
Australia’s Ashleigh Barty, the No 1 seed, overcame Britain’s Harriet Dart on Centre Court
Barty reaches the second week of Wimbledon for the first time after winning in 53 minutes
Despite the partisan backing of the Wimbledon crowd, Dart couldn’t cause an upset
As is customary on middle Saturday, the start of play was delayed while the sporting royalty in the Royal Box was introduced and the work of the members of the Armed Forces who serve as stewards applauded.
The biggest cheer came when Rod Laver was presented with a replica trophy to mark 50 years since the second of his calendar Grand Slams.
The Red Arrows’ fly past came a little late and, unfortunately for Dart, in between her first and second serves.
This was the second time this year that the 22-year-old has found herself on one of the biggest stages in tennis taking on a star of the game after losing 6-0 6-0 to Maria Sharapova in the first round of the Australian Open.
She would have been desperate to avoid the same fate and she held game points in her first two service games but was unable to take them and found herself 5-0 down inside 20 minutes.
Former tennis player Rod Laver lifts the Wimbledon trophy on Centre Court
England football manager Gareth Southgate and wife Alison watch from the Royal Box
Sir Mo Farah waves to the Centre Court crowd as he watches with his wife Tania on Saturday
There was a loud cheer when she got on the board in her third service game, stepping up her aggression, but three aces from Barty saw her sweep to the opening set.
The 23-year-old was ranked 17th this time last year but has taken the change in profile and pressure completely in her stride.
Barty has not so much as dropped a set since the semi-finals of the French Open, winning the Nature Valley Classic title in Birmingham with five straight-sets victories, and she was simply far too good for Dart.
The British player’s weak serve was taking a pounding, while she was having little success on Barty’s. Dart did make it to 0-40 at 1-4 only for Barty to reel off three excellent points, and it was all over soon after.
The top seed will take on American Alison Riske in the fourth round on Monday.
England cricketers Tom Curran, Sam Curran, James Anderson, Eoin Morgan, Stuart Broad and Jonny Bairstow in the Royal Box
England rugby coach Eddie Jones is introduced to the crowd prior to the Barty vs Dart match