Qualifier Harriet Dart, 30, is the first British woman to win Guangzhou.

Richard PagliaroNovember 1, 20262 minute read

By Richard Pagliaro | Sunday, November 1, 2026
Photo credit: Screen Shot

Long distance runs don’t deter Harriet Dart.

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’s Guangzhou Open final.

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.

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.

Dart, who dropped her first set of qualifying, won five of her six matches going the three-set distance.

“It’s amazing to be able to play in front of such a full crowd, we don’t always get that through the year,” Dart told fans afterward. “So we really appreciate you guys.

“It’s been so much fun here in Guangzhou.”

The 18-year-old Tagger defeated Dart in their one prior meeting, in the final of Fujairah last February.

“It wasn’t fun to be on the other side of the court today – you’ve had an amazing year,” Tagger told Dart during the trophy presentation. 

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.

The third-seeded Tagger saved two championship points rallying to hold for 4-5.

On her third championship point, a decisive Dart hit her title target.

Ranked No. 224 a year ago, Dart rises up to No. 83 in the WTA Live Rankings.