THE CHAMPIONSHIPS

July 6, 2024

Harriet Dart

Press Conference

WANG XINYU/H. Dart

2-6, 7-5, 6-3

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. What is your reaction, how do you reflect on that?

HARRIET DART: I mean, it was a huge opportunity today. I put myself in some situations where I was up and leading. Yeah, it was really tough. I mean, to be up in two sets and come away with a loss is pretty heartbreaking, to be honest.

Q. Was it the delay perhaps? She got better on the bigger moments? Any particular explanation?

HARRIET DART: I mean, a few things. I think, for sure, I played some good tennis at times. But the wind was really difficult to deal with. But she also played some good tennis at times.

I mean, I had 3-Love lead in the third, and I lost six games in a row. I only have myself to blame.

Q. You've been in the sport a long time. Had highs and lows before. What will you do now to try to get over this disappointment?

HARRIET DART: Hopefully it doesn't take me too long. I don't know. I mean, it's a really tough one because I've been playing some good tennis these few weeks. I've had some good results and I've been playing some good tennis.

It's definitely a match I'm going to have to really learn from. I had so many opportunities and I just didn't take them.

Q. When things were getting tough, going downhill in the third set, did you look to your coach for anything? Were you trying to deal with it all yourself?

HARRIET DART: I mean, what can your coach do? They're there to support you and stuff, but ultimately you're the one on the court playing.

I mean, yeah, they're very supportive and stuff. It's very difficult to give tactical advice, per se, when it's pretty windy like that, and the conditions. It was all changing all the time.

Yeah, I mean, it was just a really tough day today. I mean, I don't think I'm going to sleep very well tonight, that's for sure. It's something that I can try and learn from, for sure, make sure it doesn't happen again.

Q. Is there a process for getting over bad losses? Do you go out for dinner? Lock yourself away? Go for a run? How do you get over it?

HARRIET DART: This one will definitely sting for a long time I think. Especially because being here at such a big event and everything that comes with Wimbledon. Obviously, being a British player, you want to play well here.

As well, because I feel like I've been playing some good tennis in the last few weeks and I've put myself in a position where I've been getting some good results. I really believed I could do some damage here.

To lose today, being up twice, is going to sting for quite a while. But this is tennis. Every week you're dealing with losses. Just have to find a way through it.

Q. Was it the wind in that third set? What do you think contributed to losing those six in a row?

HARRIET DART: I mean, first three games were close anyway. Then, I don't know, it kind of just unraveled really. It was the same in the second set. I was 3-1 up with a break, then got broken. Then 4-2 up. It was just chaos.

The wind was I guess a contributing factor. It was forever changing, so it was difficult for both of us, not just me. There's two players out there at the end of the day. She just handled it a lot better than me.

Q. Obviously been a roller coaster emotional week. How do you reflect on your emotions at this stage of the week?

HARRIET DART: Well, I still have another match to play. I've got mixed doubles, which I'm excited for. I'll do my very best there.

But yeah, I mean, once this tournament is over for me, I guess I'll reflect a little bit more. Right now it's a little bit too close to home, just the loss being so raw and stuff. Also just having those opportunities, I'm just disappointed in myself.