Harriet Dart's fine Wimbledon run ended with a bruising defeat by world number one Ashleigh Barty in the third round.
It was a singles debut on Centre Court for both women but the gulf was all too clear as Barty wrapped up a 6-1 6-1 victory in just 53 minutes to reach the fourth round for the first time with a 15th consecutive win.
The considerable consolation for Dart is that by reaching the third round she had far exceeded expectations and her ranking will rise from its current 182 into the top 140.
Electrifying from the world No.1 ⚡️@ashbar96 is the first Australian woman to reach the fourth round at #Wimbledon since 2010, beating Harriet Dart 6-1, 6-1 in 53 minutes pic.twitter.com/YpX0MzWhGs — Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) July 6, 2019
As is customary on middle Saturday, the start of play was delayed while the sporting royalty in the Royal Box was introduced and the work of the members of the Armed Forces who serve as stewards applauded.
The biggest cheer came when Rod Laver was presented with a replica trophy to mark 50 years since the second of his calendar Grand Slams.
The Red Arrows' fly past came a little late and, unfortunately for Dart, in between her first and second serves.
The red arrows leaving their mark above Centre Court. Not the best timing for Dart in between first and second serves. pic.twitter.com/yVYNONfa9I — Eleanor Crooks (@EleanorcrooksPA) July 6, 2019
This was the second time this year that the 22-year-old has found herself on one of the biggest stages in tennis taking on a star of the game after losing 6-0 6-0 to Maria Sharapova in the first round of the Australian Open.
She would have been desperate to avoid the same fate and she held game points in her first two service games but was unable to take them and found herself 5-0 down inside 20 minutes.
There was a loud cheer when she got on the board in her third service game, stepping up her aggression, but three aces from Barty saw her sweep to the opening set.
The 23-year-old was ranked 17th this time last year but has taken the change in profile and pressure completely in her stride.
Barty has not so much as dropped a set since the semi-finals of the French Open, winning the Nature Valley Classic title in Birmingham with five straight-sets victories, and she was simply far too good for Dart.
The British player's weak serve was taking a pounding, while she was having little success on Barty's. Dart did make it to 0-40 at 1-4 only for Barty to reel off three excellent points, and it was all over soon after.
The top seed will take on American Alison Riske in the fourth round on Monday.
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