Ostapenko battles to first-round win at Wimbledon
Latvia's Alona Ostapenko overcame Britain's Harriet Dart in three sets in her opening match at Wimbledon, despite a dominant start.
Alona Ostapenko opened her Wimbledon campaign with a hard-fought victory on Monday. The Latvian world No. 35, unseeded for the first time in several years, defeated British wildcard Harriet Dart (No. 151) 6-3, 3-6, 6-4.
Ostapenko stormed to a 4-0 lead in the first set, but Dart fought back to win two games. Ostapenko eventually closed out the set on her fourth set point. The second set saw Dart take control, winning the first three games and ultimately leveling the match with a 6-3 win. In the deciding set, Ostapenko broke early and led 4-1, only for Dart to level at 4-4. However, Ostapenko saved a break point in the ninth game and broke Dart's serve in the tenth to seal the victory.
Statistically, Ostapenko hit more aces (5-3) but also more double faults (13-3). She converted 40% (6/15) of break points, while Dart converted 55.6% (5/9). The British player had a higher first-serve percentage (63.7% to 56.2%), but Ostapenko won more points on her first serve (68% to 55.4%).
This is Ostapenko's 11th appearance at Wimbledon; her best result is a semifinal in 2018, and she also reached the quarterfinals in 2017 and 2024. Last year she lost in the first round. Dart has played the main draw seven times, reaching the third round twice (2019 and 2024). The only previous meeting between the two was in Eastbourne three years ago, which Ostapenko won in straight sets.
Ostapenko was scheduled to face No. 30 seed Emma Raducanu in the second round, but Raducanu withdrew due to a lower right leg injury. Her place in the draw has been taken by lucky loser Darya Semenistaya, who will now play Croatia's Antonia Ruzic. Ostapenko is also competing in doubles alongside American Sofia Kenin.
