Londoner Harriet Dart had no intention of being at Wimbledon this week. Her plan was to be sitting in the sunshine on a beach in Santorini.
But one of the more unlikely success stories has manifested itself, with Dart and her teenage doubles partner, Jay Clarke, just one match — a tricky encounter against Jamie Murray and Victoria Azarenka — away from the mixed doubles final.
Dart is unfazed by missing her flight on Wednesday and the 21-year-old said: “I was supposed to go on holiday but that’s ruined! I will just be going late.”
The pair, who had never played doubles together before, have been a breath of fresh air. They have smiled their way through points and toppled some established names in the process, the latest with a 6-3, 6-4 victory over Mate Pavic and Gabriela Dabrowski.
Clarke admits their initial aim was simply to win a set but now Andy Murray’s occasional practice partner is targeting an upset against his brother and Britain’s No1 doubles player.
“Jamie is the king of doubles, he’s got a decent partner as well,” said the 19-year-old who, with Dart, concedes two decades worth of tennis experience to their rival pairing. “It’s going to be a tough test but I think we’re ready. Brits like the underdog, so hopefully the crowd will be on our side.”
Murray and Azarenka had a less smooth passage into today’s semi-finals, bouncing back from a set down against Jean-Julien Rojer and Demi Schuurs to win 4-6, 7-5, 7-5.
And looking ahead to the encounter that will put at least one Briton into Sunday’s final, Murray said: “Harriet and Jay are on an awesome run but it’s got to come to an end.”
Meanwhile, a maximum three sets of tennis stand between Jack Draper and a second Wimbledon final.
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In 2013, the then-awestruck 11-year-old watched from the stands as his idol, Andy Murray, ended Britain’s 77-year hoodoo in the men’s singles with the first of his two Grand Slam wins on grass.
Now the 16-year-old, born into a tennis family in which his father, Roger, was chief executive of the LTA and his mother a coach, has the chance to make history of his own.
“It feels unbelievable,” said Draper, who takes on Nicolas Mejia on No3 Court in today boys’ singles quarter-final. “I don’t take my achievement lightly. I’m very happy where I’m at but there’s no reason why I can’t go further.”