THE CHAMPIONSHIPS

July 4, 2024

Harriet Dart

Press Conference

H. DART/K. Boulter

4-6, 6-1, 7-6

THE MODERATOR: Harriet, great win today. You must be feeling very good.

HARRIET DART: Yeah, it was a very emotional day today. A big hurdle and a big step I think. I'm really proud I was able to keep it together at the very end.

Yeah, it's been a really long day because I played doubles as well. It's been maybe five, six hours on the court. Can't wait to go to bed.

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. You looked super emotional halfway through that tiebreak. Talk a little bit about what was going through your head, how you pulled it together.

HARRIET DART: I think until you're in the situation, it's easy to say from the outside how people are, right? When you're in the moment and you give everything, and it's not just about on that court in that moment, it's everything that goes before the match, months, years of the work that you put in. I just wanted it really, really badly.

I let things kind of get to me a little bit. I managed to regroup, which was the main thing, just fight my hardest. I was really pleased, as you probably saw at the end, to get away with the win.

Q. That emotion, was that because of the opponent, the context, being a third round of Wimbledon, the financial element?

HARRIET DART: Yeah, I mean, I think I'm an emotional person anyway in terms of, like, on the court. It's interesting, because my character is very different off the court.

Yeah, I mean, I think it's more you go through so many different scenarios through the year. I've been ill so much this year or injured. There's been lots of things that I've been just kind of pushing through. You work so hard for a moment like this. To finally be able to get there means so much to me.

You could see that out there that I just want it so badly. To be able to get back in the third round here, it's been a really, really long time. I really think my tennis has improved so much. It's just about being able to put it together.

Today as well was a big mental hurdle. I've been second round at slams a lot. To finally get back into the third round feels like a tick in the right direction.

Q. There's been some discussion in some parts of the press this week about a rivalry with Katie. Some people saying it's a cutthroat rivalry. Can you clear up what your relationship is on and off the court.

HARRIET DART: Gosh, rivalry? My record is absolutely woeful against her. I wouldn't really call it a rivalry.

We're Fed Cup teammates. We grew up together. I think we're only a couple days apart. It's a tough sport that we play. But we train together at the NTC when we're there. I mean, she's been having an amazing year, not just this year but last year as well.

So to be able to beat her here shows how much I've come forward as well within my game. I mean, she's an amazing player, had an amazing year. Honestly, I wasn't really expecting to win today because, as I said, my head-to-head with her is absolutely awful. To finally get a win is nice (smiling).

Q. You said this is the second time you reached the third round. You're playing an unseeded opponent. What do you think about playing Wang?

HARRIET DART: We've played once before in Australia, where I won, I think in '21. '21? God, I could be wrong. In Australia anyway.

But yeah, I mean, she's a great player. Hits the ball really flat, low. I'm not surprised she's doing really well here. She's been having a phenomenal year. She's been beating some really good players. She beat Jess today. Jess is an incredible player. She's also been winning so much on grass.

I know that I'm expecting a very tough match. I'm excited for it. It's another opportunity for me. Doesn't really matter who I'm playing against. Try and take care of my tennis, how I can play, and hopefully that's enough.

Q. What would it mean for your career, your profile if you can get to the fourth round of Wimbledon?

HARRIET DART: I'm sorry?

Q. To get to the fourth round of Wimbledon, what would it mean for your profile and your career?

HARRIET DART: My profile? I have no idea. I don't really think about those things. I'm not really a social media person.

I think for me to be able to make the second week has been a really big goal. I tried not to put too much pressure on it. I wasn't really expecting too much coming into Wimbledon this year. Well, I'm my own worst enemy.

I expect a lot from myself during these weeks. I don't think it's really gone as planned. I've had some really tough, tight matches that haven't gone my way.

But it means more than anything for me to be sitting here and getting ready to compete in the third round.

Q. How come you don't do social media? Are you a voyeur, look on things?

HARRIET DART: I mean, I use it from time to time. Yeah, I mean, I share what I want to share on social media. But, yeah, I don't know. I just think there's a lot of positives for it but also a lot of negatives. I'm sure today, if I open one of my apps, regardless if I won, I'd have a lot of hate, as well.

Q. You said before that your partner has helped you through dark times. Can you talk about how he supported you, what those dark times are that he's taken you through? I believe he was on court today, is that right?

HARRIET DART: Yeah, he was there watching.

Q. What it means to have him in and around tournament?

HARRIET DART: God, I'm honestly so grateful he came into my life. He's a really positive -- has been a really positive impact. He's so supportive of everything that I do. Now he's traveling with me full-time, which is really great. For someone to have no ego in anything, he's very happy to support wherever he can.

Now he actually has taken over the role as my agent, which has been really good and really fun. So yeah, I mean, it's been so nice that he's always there for me no matter what through the good and bad.

As much as this is a win of mine, it's also a win for him, a win for my whole team.

Q. Quite hard to set personal and professional?

HARRIET DART: No, it's really easy. We barely talk about tennis anyway. Now we just talk when we have professional things. At home we never speak about tennis.

Q. What was his occupation before?

HARRIET DART: What was he doing? He was in fashion. He was a model. Yeah, he also has a law degree.