Match Report<\/p>\n
Qualifier Harriet Dart, 30, is the first British woman to win Guangzhou.<\/p>\n
Richard PagliaroNovember 1, 20262 minute read<\/p>\n
By Richard Pagliaro | Sunday, November 1, 2026
Photo credit: Screen Shot<\/p>\n
Long distance runs don\u2019t deter Harriet Dart.<\/p>\n
The 30-year-old Dart showed determined closing kick claiming her first career championship with a 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 triumph over Lilli Tagger in today\u2019s Guangzhou Open final.<\/p>\n
On her third championship point, Dart drilled a serve down the T to wrap a two hour, 16-minute triumph then fell to the court in an eruption of pure joy.<\/p>\n
The 115th-ranked qualifier made history as the first British woman to win Guangzhou. Dart did it with timely shotmaking, sheer determination and a strong commitment to the cause when going the distance. <\/p>\n
Dart, who dropped her first set of qualifying, won five of her six matches going the three-set distance.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s amazing to be able to play in front of such a full crowd, we don\u2019t always get that through the year,\u201d Dart told fans afterward. \u201cSo we really appreciate you guys. <\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s been so much fun here in Guangzhou.\u201d<\/p>\n
The 18-year-old Tagger defeated Dart in their one prior meeting, in the final of Fujairah last February.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt wasn\u2019t fun to be on the other side of the court today \u2013 you\u2019ve had an amazing year,\u201d Tagger told Dart during the trophy presentation.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Today, Tagger stayed in step through the first six games of the final set. Dart converted her third break point for a 4-3 lead then denied two break points confirming the break for 5-3. <\/p>\n
The third-seeded Tagger saved two championship points rallying to hold for 4-5.<\/p>\n
On her third championship point, a decisive Dart hit her title target.<\/p>\n