'Any of you guys had the Duchess watch you play?!'
That was the response from Harriet Dart after her first round win over American Christina McHale in front of royalty on Court 14 on Tuesday.
In only her second year at the Championships the 22-year-old recorded her first win 4-6, 6-4, 6-4, watched on by the Duchess of Cambridge, in career highlight she described as 'surreal.'
"The chair umpire mentioned it before the coin toss.
"It's pretty cool to have royalty watching you.
"Such a privilege for me for her to get to see me play.
"Hopefully she'll come to many more of my matches."
READ:
Norrie learns from French Open nightmare in Istomin winThe Duchess left the arena at the end of the first set, which Dart lost, asked if that played a part the turnaround the London based World No.132 said:
"I didn't even know which point she left.
"I was just aware she was there at the start.
"I think I dealt with the conditions well, definitely towards the end naturally I was a bit nervous to try and close it out.
"I think i did really well to hold myself together and get through."
Dart will go on to play Brazilian Beatriz Haddad Maia in the second round where she's guaranteed to pick up a cheque of £72,000.
"Obviously financially it helps a lot.
"I didn't even know that was the amount, I don't look at those sort of things.
"But for sure, financially it will help with my team."
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