AUSTRALIAN OPEN

January 18, 2022

Harriet Dart

Press Conference

I. SWIATEK/H. Dart

6-3, 6-0

THE MODERATOR: Tough match out there to start the Australian Open. How are you feeling after that?

HARRIET DART: It's been challenging here, actually. I've always had some really, I'd say, rough draws. But yeah, I think I started well today, and then it was tough, and she really found her rhythm. Yeah, kind of let her dictate me, and once you do that against such a high-quality player, it's really tough to come back from that.

Yeah, but overall I've played six matches here, and happy to be injury free and kind of kick on for the year.

Q. You mentioned your draws there. What did you think when you saw this one and when you saw you were on Rod Laver again?

HARRIET DART: I mean, of course to play such a champion on a big court, these are kind of the matches you do play tennis for. At the same time, it would be nice to have a few matches before you get that opportunity.

But yeah, you kind of do find where your level is at straight away against such a big opponent. Yeah, hopefully I can put myself in a position where I can do better in these matches and just keep improving my game. I really feel that everything is kind of going in the right direction, so that's something to be really positive about.

Q. (On the quality of her play.)

HARRIET DART: I think it is an accumulation of things for sure. I think the sun from one end was really challenging. I think both of us really struggled, especially at the beginning, to serve from that end. But yeah, I think there was an accumulation of things, the reason why I lost the match today. But not necessarily pinpoint one thing.

Q. What makes her such a tough opponent?

HARRIET DART: I think, again, many things. One, she's a great competitor. She's got good feel. Serve is good. She doesn't really have too many weaknesses. I think definitely when I started well, the important thing was to keep the level, then I dropped and she rose. I think that's what definitely the big players do very well. They're able to sustain a level, and that's why they are where they are.

Q. What's next for you after this?

HARRIET DART: I get to go home, which is nice. Obviously of course would love to still be here. This is my week four in Melbourne in the same hotel room, in the same place, doing the same thing. I've been a bit -- I've been quite antisocial and been eating a lot in my room just with COVID and everything. Managed to get -- I think I've been out really twice. God, that sounds awful, doesn't it. But yeah, just with everything that's going on.

It will be nice to go home, practice a bit. I had a bit of an interrupted preseason. I had a real big problem with my foot and I was kind of lucky to be out here, so I count myself grateful to be able to compete here and get through, so for me it's go back, regroup. Haven't been on a flight this long in a while, so hopefully jet lag will be kind to me, and practice for a few weeks -- I think it's two actually before going to St. Petersburg and then hopefully Doha, Dubai.

Q. You said the other day that you need to not be in qualifying, so is that a target by the French Open, you want to not be in qualifying?

HARRIET DART: Yeah. I mean, I'm not very patient. My close team always tell me I have to count the small wins, which is true. It's definitely a step forward like this week and last week. To play matches at this level is kind of what you want to be doing week in and week out, and for me, of course, to make main draw of French Open is a huge goal, but also realize there are steps to be taken to kind of get there, and if I keep improving my game, everything else will then take care of itself.