Harriet Dart extends Romanian run to advance to first WTA Tour semi-final

The British number three, who has now won five matches in a row in the Romanian city of Cluj-Napoca after coming through qualifying, comfortably defeated Spain's Nuria Parrizas Diaz 6-3 6-2.

Dart had lost her previous four Tour quarter-finals, all at British grass court events.

The 27-year-old is now guaranteed to return to the top 100 next week, and will overtake Jodie Burrage as British number two if she can go further.

Dart lost her opening serving game but from there took a firm grip on the match, finding the right balance of aggression and consistency to open up a 4-1 lead.

After clinching the opening set, she then moved 3-0 ahead in the second, with Parrizas Diaz's higher error count proving her undoing.

Dart said: "I'm really excited to keep it going. I don't think either of us played particularly good tennis, I think both of us were a bit nervous. I was just happy that I fought really hard, kept my head together and managed to take the close games and the big moments."

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