Indian Wells news: Harriet Dart scores huge upset win

WTA Tour
Delight for Harriet Dart

Great Britain’s Harriet Dart produced one of the stand out performances of her career to date to upset Elina Svitolina and book a place in round three at Indian Wells.

Dart hit back from a set down to triumph 2-6 6-3 6-3 and earn her very first victory over a top 20 player.

Svitolina struggled to contain Dart’s power once the Brit found some consistency in her game.

Already playing quite late, there was a further delay when issues with equipment forced a change of net.

Dart struggled to hold serve at all in the first set and it looked like Svitolina was all set to make quick work of the qualifier.

However, Svitolina’s own serve would give her problems and allow Dart back into the match.

The turning point came in the first game of the second set when Dart saved three break points. That seemed to spark belief in the 25-year-old.

Dart broke Svitolina three times in a row to take a 5-3 lead and serve for the set which she clinched with an ace.

Dart only converted eight of a whopping 21 break points she earned in the clash, but that would be enough to get past Svitolina and book a date with Kaia Kanepi of Estonia.

Kanepi scored an upset victory of her own by ousting No 22 seed Belinda Bencic 6-4, 6-3 in an hour and 21 minutes.

The Estonian won 63 percent of points returning Bencic’s second serve, easing into the Indian Wells third round for the third time.

In other action overnight Angelique Kerber managed a potentially tough opening draw against rising Chinese teenager Zheng Qinwen, winning 6-2, 5-7, 6-4 to advance to the third round.

Australian Open semifinalist Madison Keys also needed three sets to see off unfancied Misaki Doi of Japan 6-4, 3-6, 6-1.

Coco Gauff will also make a return appearance in the Indian Wells third round after she held off fellow American Claire Liu 6-1, 7-6(4) in their Friday night clash in Indian Wells.

It was a good evening for Great Britain as Emma Radacanu returned to the WTA Tour with a victory over Caroline Garcia.

Harriet Dart

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