Dart wins to set up Rybakina meeting at Eastbourne

Britain's Harriet Dart overcame Marie Bouzkova successful a topsy-turvy lucifer to group up a second-round brushwood pinch apical seed Elena Rybakina astatine Eastbourne.

Roared connected by a partisan location crowd, Dart fought backmost from a double break down successful some nan first and 2nd sets earlier wrapping up a 7-5 6-7 (7-9) 6-4 triumph successful astir 3 and a half hours.

It is Dart's champion triumph of nan twelvemonth by ranking, pinch nan 27-year-old wildcard classed 68 places beneath Czech Bouzkova.

She will look erstwhile Wimbledon champion and world number 4 Rybakina, who received a bye successful nan first round, connected Wednesday.

"It was an unthinkable match, truthful galore ups and downs," said Dart, who revealed she was struggling pinch contented bony symptom passim nan match.

"Marie's an unthinkable combatant and ever makes it tough. I'm very happy that it turned my measurement this time."

With nan basking sun beaming down connected Eastbourne's centre court, it looked for illustration it would beryllium a difficult day for Dart aft falling a double break down early on.

But nan British number 2 rallied to level nan group astatine 4-4 earlier breaking again to snatch nan opener.

Again, Dart recovered herself trailing 4-1 successful nan 2nd group earlier launching different comeback arsenic Bouzkova, a quarter-finalist astatine Wimbledon successful 2022, faltered erstwhile more.

The world number 37 held sufficiently patient to unit a tie-break, and while Dart saved 3 group points, a bad boy forehand handed Bouzkova nan set.

The brace traded breaks astatine nan commencement of nan decider earlier Dart collapsed again, an advantage she would ne'er relinquish arsenic she served retired nan lucifer astatine nan first opportunity.

Dart is 1 of 4 British players successful nan women's singles tie astatine Eastbourne this week, pinch Katie Boulter, Emma Raducanu and Lily Miyazaki successful action connected Tuesday.

Earlier, Billy Harris moved past chap British wildcard Jacob Fearnley pinch a 6-4 7-6 (9-7) victory.

It continues a affirmative grass-court play for nan 29-year-old, who moved wrong nan world's apical 150 aft reaching his first ATP Tour quarter-final past week astatine Queen's Club.

He will look nan recently crowned Queen's champion Tommy Paul next, pinch nan American 2nd seed receiving a bye successful nan first round.

Harris and Fearnley will make their Grand Slam debuts this summertime aft they received wildcards for nan main tie astatine Wimbledon, which starts connected 1 July.