Harriet Dart Battles Rowdy Crowd in Australian Open Defeat

Harriet Dart, who earned a spot in the Australian Open main draw just an hour before her first match, faced rowdy crowd behavior during her second-round loss to Croatia’s Donna Vekic. Despite taking the first set, Dart ultimately fell 4-6, 6-0, 6-2. Dart expressed her frustration with the lack of respect from the Court 14 crowd, comparing it to the atmosphere of a football match. She suggested stricter policies for disruptive fans, noting that a few were nearly removed during the match.

Dart’s loss followed Vekic’s five-game streak, which secured her victory. Similarly, Jack Draper faced a challenging environment in his match against Australian Thanasi Kokkinakis. The home crowd tried to unsettle Draper during the four-and-a-half-hour match but Draper found energy in the “electric atmosphere” and even responded to the crowd by cupping his ear.

Meanwhile, Coco Gauff defeated Britain’s Jodie Burrage 6-3, 7-5 after Burrage failed to serve out the second set. Despite her defeat, Burrage showed resilience especially after a string of injuries that nearly ended her career. Her performance against the 2023 US Open champion highlighted her determination, although she missed her chance to force a decider after a poor service game at 5-3 in the second set.

In doubles, Britain’s Maia Lumsden and Czech Anna Siskova advanced to the second round with a 6-4, 7-5 win over Oksana Kalashnikova and Varvara Gracheva. Harriet Dart and Jodie Burrage’s performances were commendable despite their losses with both players showcasing grit and potential.