Birmingham Classic: Harriet Dart advanced to the quarter-finals of the Rothesay Birmingham Classic for the second week in a row, defeating Anhelina Kalinina.
Dart was handed a Wimbledon wild card earlier in the day and celebrated by defeating the Ukrainian fifth seed 6-3 3-6 6-1.
The British No. 4, who has been suffering from tonsillitis, defeated Kalinina in Nottingham last week on her route to the quarter-finals, and this is her second consecutive last-eight appearance.
She will play fourth seed Anastasia Potapova or Caty McNally in the last eight on Friday, continuing her stellar preparation at SW19, where she is already guaranteed a place in the main event.
“I was always expecting a battle; I played well last week, and I knew she’d up her game. The courts are a little faster here, so I just had to adjust a little more,” she explained.
“I’m just relieved to be finished.
“I’m kind of used to it; I’ve played a lot of long matches, not by choice, but it happens. I always like returning to Birmingham; it’s a fantastic city.
“I love playing on grass, I love playing in front of my home fans, and I definitely love these next few weeks.”
The world No. 134, who defeated fellow Brit Jodie Burrage in the previous round, took a 3-0 lead after saving seven break points in her first two service games.
It took Kalinina 23 minutes to get started, but Dart was unstoppable, winning the first set 6-3.
The second set was considerably tighter before Kalinina took advantage of an opening in the sixth service game to go up 4-2 and force a tiebreaker.
Dart, on the other hand, rallied and surged clear in the deciding set, with match points at 5-0.
Kalinina did have her serve it out, but the Brit handled it with ease, much to the pleasure of the Edgbaston Priory audience.
Earlier in the day, Linda Fruhvirtova advanced to the quarter-finals after defeating Bernarda Pera 6-1, 7-6 (7-3).
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