DART INTO MELBOURNE MAIN DRAW AFTER WIN

Harriet Dart qualified at a grand slam for the fifth time in Melbourne – and she hopes it will be the last.

The British No 3, who is ranked 125, defeated Australian wild card Kimberly Birrell 6-3 6-3 in the final round of qualifying at the Australian Open, dropping just one set in her three matches.

It marks the third time in four years that Dart has successfully negotiated qualifying at Melbourne Park – she reached round two in 2020 before losing to Simona Halep – while she has also made it through twice at the US Open.

Asked about her record, Dart said with a smile: “It shows I need to be not in qualifying any more and try to put myself in a position where I can be directly in, because playing three matches against good players is never easy.”

Both players struggled to hold serve, with Birrell managing it just twice in the match, but Dart battled well, twice coming from a break down in the second set.

“I’m just super happy and pleased to be through,” she said.

“I always knew it was going to be a really tough match. We’re good friends and we’ve practised a lot together but never actually played a match.

“I think I benefited from playing last week here, I got three matches under these conditions.

“I guess I’ve got the experience of coming through twice here before, so I definitely think that helped me today.”

Dart joins compatriots Emma Raducanu, Heather Watson, Cameron Norrie, Dan Evans and Andy Murray in the main draw.

There was more British success to end the day as an emotional Liam Broady recovered from a set and 5-2 down to defeat in-form Russian Roman Safiullin 4-6 7-6 (2) 6-2 and qualify in Melbourne for the first time.

Broady, who also qualified at the 2020 French Open, lay on the court at the end soaking in the moment and will get a crack at Nick Kyrgios in the first round providing the Australian is clear of Covid-19 in time.