Harriet Dart wants to speed back towards a spot in the world's top 100 after stunning Croatian ace Donna Vekic at the LTA's Rothesay Open. The Hampstead star, who is on the LTA's Pro Scholarship Programme — the highest level of support for players aged 16-24 — toppled former world No.19 Vekic 6-4 6-3 in the first round to kickstart her Nottingham campaign in style. Ad/> Dart, 25, soared up to a ranking of world No.99 in March before a tricky clay court season saw her fall just outside the globe's coveted top 100.
TennisNo place like home for Raducanu as she makes Nottingham returnAN HOUR AGO The Londoner knows a run deep in the Midlands can catapult her back to the big time and hopes her Monday triumph can lay the foundations for another red-hot rise. Asked if she was targeting a spot back in the world's top 100, Dart said: «Yes, for sure. At the end of the day, I want to win matches week in, week out and then the rankings will take care of themselves.
»For me, it's just more of a focus on each match as it comes. «I don't really have too many goals for this grass court season — I want to enjoy each match, put in good performances, win against each player and try to do it each match. »Clay is not my best surface, and that's something I hope to improve on.
«But I know I can play a really good level on grass – it doesn't take much to swing a match and today has definitely given me some confidence. »I knew I had to bring my A-game today and in patches I did play really well. «I've definitely made strides in the right direction — I've had a little bit of a rough period recently but it's great to get a win on the board on home soil.» Dart came flying out of the blocks against Vekic — the current world No.100 — to take the
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