World number 131 Harriet Dart faced a tough second-round exit at the US Open after falling in straight sets to Czech 25th seed Marie Bouzkova. As temperatures soared to around 30 degrees Celsius in New York, the British player admitted she felt unwell and struggled significantly with the demanding conditions on the court.
Battling Illness and Extreme Heat
Throughout the match, Dart struggled to find her rhythm as the extreme heat took a toll on her physical condition. During the changeovers, she attempted to cool her body down by draping ice towels around her neck and utilizing cold-air hoses. Explaining her struggles after the match, she noted that she had been running a temperature and felt under the weather following weeks of continuous competition. She also pointed out the harsh transition from the freezing indoor air conditioning to the intense outdoor heat.
Match Statistics and Dominance
Bouzkova took firm control of the match early on, sealing a 6-2, 6-2 victory. Dart struggled immensely on her serve, committing eight double faults and landing only 45% of her first serves. The Czech player capitalized on these struggles by winning seven consecutive games to wrap up the first set and secure a double break lead in the second set, eventually closing out the match to advance to the third round where she will face Polish eighth seed Iga Swiatek.
Remaining British Hopes
Dart's elimination leaves Fran Jones as the final remaining Briton across the singles draws at Flushing Meadows. Jones is scheduled to face American 14th seed Iva Jovic later on Thursday. Dart's exit follows fellow compatriot Katie Boulter's swift second-round defeat to Karolina Muchova in just 58 minutes on Wednesday.
Broader British Campaign Results
In the men's singles draw at the tournament, Jacob Fearnley and Toby Samuel were both knocked out in the second round. Meanwhile, Cameron Norrie, Arthur Fery, Harry Wendelken, and Jan Choinski all exited the competition following defeats in the first round.
