Britain's Dart reaches first WTA Tour semi-final

Harriet Dart reached her first semi-final on the WTA Tour with victory over Spain’s Nuria Parrizas-Diaz on the Transylvania Open.

The British quantity three, who got here by qualifying on the occasion in Cluj, Romania, gained 6-3 6-2.

Dart, 27, will face Czech former world primary Karolina Pliskova, who beat Italy’s Sara Errani 6-2 6-0, subsequent.

She’s going to rise to a provisional 92nd on the earth rankings, eight locations shy of her profession better of 84th.

Dart had misplaced her 4 earlier WTA Tour quarter-finals, all approaching British grass.

Having misplaced to Parrizas-Diaz within the remaining of January’s second-tier Canberra Open, Dart bought off to a shaky begin towards the Spaniard when she was damaged within the opening sport by her unseeded opponent.

However she instantly broke again to begin a successful run of 4 successive video games, earlier than forcing Parrizas-Diaz to avoid wasting 4 break factors to carry serve.

After seeing out the opening set on the first alternative, Dart proceeded to go a double break up initially of the second.

She and Parrizas-Diaz traded additional breaks earlier than the Briton sealed her development to the final 4 on her second match level.

“I am actually excited to maintain it going,” mentioned Dart.

“I do not suppose both of us performed significantly good tennis, I believe each of us have been a bit nervous.

“I used to be simply completely satisfied that I fought actually exhausting, saved my head collectively and managed to take the shut video games and the large moments.”