Dart hits the bullseye with qualification

HARRIET Dart qualified at a grand slam for the fifth time in Melbourne – and she hopes it will be the last, writes Eleanor Crooks.

The British number three, 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 Melbourne qualifying – 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 – 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 played a match.

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

Dart, who has begun working with Britain’s Dave Collins after being guided predominantly by Eastern European coaches, joins compatriots Emma Raducanu, Heather Watson, Cameron Norrie, Dan Evans and Andy Murray in the main draw.

And there was more British success to end the day as Liam Broady recovered from a set and 5-2 down to defeat in-form Russian Roman Safiullin 4-6, 7-6 (7-2), 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.

Broady said: “I’m ecstatic. Having qualified for the French the year before last I kind of felt like I’d been here before and had already climbed the mountain of qualifying for a slam. I definitely felt a lot more relaxed and a lot less nervous than in the past.

“At 6-4, 5-2 I was thinking ‘Geez this isn’t going how I planned it’, but I managed to hang in there and give myself a chance. I’m just proud that I managed to win.”