Harriet Dart secured her first Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) singles title by triumphing at the Guangzhou Open in China, overcoming Austria’s Lilli Tagger in a three-set final on Sunday. The 30-year-old British player, who entered the tournament through qualifying rounds, rallied from a set down to win 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 in a closely contested match.

Dart, coached by 2013 Wimbledon champion Marion Bartoli, faced a challenging start after losing the opening set 6-4. She was broken in the first game and had to save a break point early in her next service game. Despite this, Dart managed to break back at 4-4, but Tagger, who won the 2025 junior French Open and was seeded fourth in the tournament, responded quickly and secured the set.

In the second set, Dart seized the momentum by breaking serve at 5-3 to level the match. The deciding set featured a series of consecutive breaks of serve, adding tension to the final stages. Dart showed resilience, saving two crucial break points to hold serve at 5-3. Although Tagger saved a championship point, Dart ultimately served out the match, celebrating her victory by collapsing in relief after hitting an unreturned serve.

This title marks a significant milestone in Dart’s career. She became only the 14th British woman to win a WTA singles event during the Open Era. Her success at Guangzhou followed a dramatic semi-final in which she saved three match points against Sun Xinran to reach her first WTA final.

Throughout the week, Dart endured five matches—three of which went to three sets—including two qualifying rounds, accumulating over 15 hours on court. The hard-fought journey reflects her improved form on hard courts, where she has won 19 of 24 matches since Wimbledon. Her overall record this season stands at 23 victories from 34 matches, the best winning percentage of her career.

The win propels Dart back into the world’s top 100 rankings, moving her to 84th and making her the British No. 3 female player, ahead of Fran Jones and Emma Raducanu. It also guarantees her direct entry into the Australian Open main draw in January, eliminating the need for qualifying.

Dart expressed gratitude to her team and appreciation for the supportive crowd in Guangzhou. “Even when I’m down—and people think I’m down and out—I’m still able to overcome it,” she said after the match. She praised her opponent as well, predicting Tagger would go on to win multiple titles in the future.

This victory represents a breakthrough moment for Dart and may signal a new phase in her career as she prepares for the upcoming season.