Dart finds recipe for success at Eastbourne
HARRIET DART served up a hat-trick of wins at the Rothesay International Eastbourne and revealed a spaghetti marinara was the secret to her success.
The world No.103 started the day by finishing off her secondround match with 10th seed
Jil Teichmann and clinched a tight decider to triumph 7-6 (9-7), 4-6, 6-3.
After a tiny amount of rest, the home favourite was back in action and got the better of Ukraine’s Marta Kostyuk 6-4, 2-6, 6-4.
It made her the first British player to make the last eight of the Devonshire Park event in five years and she concluded a busy day by teaming up with Heather Watson, who made the semi-finals in the singles in 2017, to defeat American duo Desirae Krawczyk and Shelby Rogers 7-5, 6-4.
Dart’s reward after a treble of victories? A trip to her lucky Italian restaurant.
“I am just glad to be leaving this place before dark, so that is definitely a real positive,” the British No.2 said.
“Just, it sounds really silly, but I do everything pretty much the same. So, I will just be getting food from Pomodoro’s, which is a great Italian restaurant that I am sure you all know about. Having the same thing. I know it’s boring but it works.”
Quizzed on the winning formula. Dart revealed: “The spaghetti marinara. It’s good.”
Dart’s success will move her into the top 100 and ensured there was home representation in the women’s event after Katie Boulter and Jodie Burrage saw their fine runs come to an end.
British No.4 Boulter pushed two-time Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova all the way but went down 5-7, 6-0, 7-5.
The 25-year-old reeled off five consecutive games to clinch the opener, but the former world No.2 upped her level and even two stoppages due to medical emergencies in the crowd failed to knock the Czech off her stride as she triumphed in two hours and 23 minutes.
Burrage, fresh from a careerbest scalp over Paula Badosa on Tuesday, could not keep up with the in-form Beatriz Haddad Maia suffering a 6-1, 6-2, loss in just over an hour.
Camila Giorgi claimed a fine 7-5, 6-3, victory over fifth seed and former Wimbledon champion Garbine Muguruza and defending champion Jelena Ostapenko stayed on course to retain her WTA 500 title after opponent Madison Keys was forced to retire.
In the men’s side of the draw, Cameron Norrie eased past Brandon Nakashima
6-4, 6-2, for his first win on grass this summer while British prospect Jack Draper stunned world No.15 Diego Schwartzman.
Norrie had suffered a shock early exit at Queen’s Club last week but produced an accomplished display against his American opponent, who he broke on three separate occasions.
An all-British quarter-final meeting between the world No.12 and Dan Evans was denied after the latter lost 7-6 (7-2), 6-4, to Maxime Cressy.
Draper delivered a memorable Centre Court victory after a hard-fought 7-5, 7-6 (7-3), win over Schwartzman.
Next up for Draper in the last eight could be a second meeting of the summer with Ryan Peniston, who saw his match with Pedro Martinez suspended at 7-6 (10-8), 3-6, 3-2, just beyond 8.30pm.
“All the Brits I have got a really good relationship with Cam, Dan, Andy [Murray] and Ryan as well. We train together on a daily basis,”
Draper said. “I think that is one thing where British tennis is changing. We want to push each other to get to the top 100 and I am very happy for Ryan.
“He is having an amazing few weeks. I hope I play him tomorrow. Three Brits in the quarters would be a good effort.”
Defending champion Alex De Minaur also progressed but second seed Jannik Sinner was knocked out by Tommy Paul.
In the doubles, Serena Williams made it two from two on her comeback from 12 months out after she and new partner Ons Jabeur secured a 6-2, 6-4, victory over Shuko Aoyama and Chan Haoching.
The 40-year-old played her first match on Tuesday since sustaining a serious injury to her right leg at Wimbledon last year and despite a rusty start showed flashes of her brilliance.
Williams stepped things up a notch yesterday with an array of winners and aces to send a warning to her rivals ahead of a latest pursuit of a 24th Grand-Slam title.
“I think we played together much better today, although I felt we played really well together yesterday. Ons really helped me out playing so good,” Williams said on court.
Quizzed on how she celebrated on Tuesday, the seven-time Wimbledon champion joked she went for a dip.
Williams said with a smile: “I went to the beach and for a swim like everyone here in the cold water, no, no way. I didn’t do much. I just played with my baby [Olympia]. She is so fun.”
Jabeur and Williams will return to Devonshire Park today.
“I didn’t know we are in the semi-final. It is super fast but it is great for us,” Jabeur said.
Meanwhile, Katie Swann has exited the Bad Homburg Open in Germany after she lost 6-4, 6-4, to Bianca Andreescu in the second round.