ROTHESAY INTERNATIONAL

June 24, 2024

Harriet Dart

Devonshire Park

Press Conference

H. DART/M. Bouzkova

7-5, 6-7, 6-4

THE MODERATOR: Questions for Harriet.

Q. Congrats on the win. How are you feeling after that? Pretty mammoth match.

HARRIET DART: Yeah, for sure. I mean, I wasn't expecting to play some of my longest matches of my career in the last few weeks on grass, that's for sure (smiling).

But, yeah, just really happy that today went my way. Marie is an incredible fighter, and I always knew it was going to be a really, really tough match. Even though I had some chances to finish in the second set, I knew it was going to be really tough to put her away.

Q. Is that the sort of win that gives you a real kind of momentum and belief that you can compete against the top-50 players?

HARRIET DART: For sure. I mean, you know, any win I can get against any player, especially at these bigger events, is a big confidence booster. I know the last few weeks I have been playing some good tennis. I have been practicing really well. It's just being able to transfer it onto the match court.

You know, there has been some really tight matches that haven't gone my way, and so to be able to win this match really means a lot.

Q. What was it like being out there on center court in front of those fans?

HARRIET DART: Hot (smiling). We haven't had very good weather in the last few weeks, so it was a bit of a shock to the system.

Yeah, it was amazing. Coming back to Eastbourne every year, I always think it's an amazing atmosphere. There are so many people that come and watch us. Really grateful to play in front of a home crowd.

Q. Congrats for today. What were you telling yourself in some of those important moments like when you were down early on and in that second-set tiebreak?

HARRIET DART: To have no regrets. You know, I think it's really important to remember that at the end of the day, you know, you want to come off the match court and you want to know you have given everything in terms of how you approach things, how you play in certain big moments.

Not necessarily about getting the win. It's more about making steps so that in next matches you don't repeat the same mistakes that you have done previously.

You know, if you don't try something new or you do the same things all the time and expect a different result, it's not always going to happen. For me today I was just really proud to be able to step up at some of the big moments.

Q. How about Elena Rybakina? Thoughts on how you approach the challenge of playing her in the next round?

HARRIET DART: Yeah, I mean, Elena is a great champion, Wimbledon champion. I played her a few years ago here on the grass, and most recently I think I played her at the Billie Jean King Cup Finals in Glasgow.

Haven't got a win against her yet, but I will try my best to try and, you know, use the fact that I have played on the courts already (smiling). Yeah, just give it a really good go and try to play a really good match.

Q. On the Olympics, I know you're desperate to try and get into the Games if you can. Is there any intel on whether that doubles pairing is going to make it?

HARRIET DART: I have no clue. I'm as much in the dark as you guys are.

Q. You mentioned about enjoying playing here. You have had some good results here. Can you talk about what it's like playing here in Eastbourne and how it's different from other events?

HARRIET DART: For me, personally, I think it's really nice that any tournament you can walk from the courts to the hotel, to be able to have the freedom to go to the beach, to be able to just walk and not have to be in a vehicle for me is really nice, because, you know, most of the year we spend the time on planes, in cars. It can be really draining. So it's really calming in Eastbourne, I find.

Q. Next year it will be a 250 rather than a 500. How much of a difference do you think that will make?

HARRIET DART: I'm not sure, but I think mostly it won't make too much of a difference, because a lot of people want grass court tournament practice. There are so few events anyway on this surface, and people always want matches.

I think you see it in the men's events is a really good standard as well. Yeah, I see it still being a great tournament.