Guangzhou Open: Harriet Dart reaches first WTA Tour final after dramatic comeback against Chinese teenager Sun Xinran
Harriet Dart has reached her first WTA Tour singles final 11 years after her debut, coming from a set down to beat Sun Xinran; Watch Harriet Dart vs Lilli Tagger in the Guangzhou Open final on Sunday morning from 8.30am, live on Sky Sports Tennis and Sky Sports+
Saturday 31 October 2026 14:01, UK
Harriet Dart is through to her first WTA Tour singles final after beating Sun Xinran 5-7 7-6 (7-1) 6-0 at the Guangzhou Open.
Dart has waited 11 years to get this far in a tournament and almost served herself out of contention during a tumultuous first set against the 16-year-old Chinese player.
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A double fault on break point in her opening game left her chasing, before she dragged the set back with four straight holds. Then, as she served for the set, Dart double-faulted twice more before Sun held to 15 and broke her for a third time to claim the first set.
The second set went the same way twice over. Dart broke in the first game and was broken back, then broke again in the fifth and was broken back again.
The 30-year-old had to serve to stay in the match twice in the second set and she also complained various times to the chair umpire about the crowd.
She won the tie-break decisively though, 7-1, and never looked back.
Sun, the reigning US Open junior champion, took a medical timeout for treatment on her left leg and did not win another game. Dart took 28 of the 41 points in the decider and was through in a little under two and a half hours.
"It's been a really long journey," said Dart. "It's been really hard, and you know, I've wanted it so much, so badly, sometimes too much, but to finally be here and be in the final means the world.
"Thank you to my team for sticking with me. I really appreciate you guys. I hope you guys will come back tomorrow and support me."
Dart has climbed 14 places to 101st in the live rankings ahead of Sunday's final against Austrian fourth seed Lilli Tagger, and if she can win that she is assured of a place back inside the top 100.
Watch Harriet Dart vs Lilli Tagger in the Guangzhou Open final from 8.30am, live on Sky Sports Tennis and Sky Sports+. Latest Sky Sports deals or stream no contract on NOW.
