GB's Fearnley and Dart complete superb comeback wins

Britain’s Jacob Fearnley produced a remarkable comeback to beat Martin Landaluce in five sets after compatriot Harriet Dart ended a 19-month wait for a Grand Slam win in the US Open first round.

World number 101 Fearnley, playing in the main draw as a lucky loser, trailed 5-2 in the fourth set before reeling off 10 of the next 11 games en route to a thrilling 4-6 6-2 4-6 7-5 6-3 win.

Dart, taken to three sets in all three of her US Open qualifying matches – including losing the opening set against Kristina Penickova and Heather Watson – once again opted for the scenic route at Flushing Meadows.

Down a set and a break, she took advantage of the fluctuating form of American opponent Peyton Stearns to win 3-6 6-3 6-2.

Fearnley and Dart join fellow Brits Toby Samuel and Katie Boulter in round two, where they will face 27th seed Tomas Etcheverry and 25th seed Marie Bouzkova, respectively.

‘Just point after point’ – Fearnley’s philosophy

After giving up a one-set lead against Jurij Rodionov in his final qualifying match, Fearnley was handed a “second chance” following the late withdrawal of Brazilian Joao Fonseca.

Knowing he didn’t have a “whole lot to lose” and taking inspiration from a comeback win on the Challenger Tour in July, the British number four added another great escape to his season by following a simple philosophy – “just point after point”.

Seemingly down and out with world number 65 Landaluce serving for the match in the fourth set, Fearnley won 20 of the next 24 points, including three breaks of serve, to force an unlikely decider.

Continuing that momentum, he roared into a 5-1 lead in the fifth. Although he failed to serve out the win at the first attempt, letting two match points go by, double-faulting at two crucial moments and completely missing a smash, he recovered his composure to serve out to love in his next service game.

Across the dramatic final two sets, Fearnley (27) and Landaluce (29) were evenly matched for unforced errors, but the Briton struck an impressive 30 winners to his opponent’s 11 as he seized the initiative.

“I still don’t think I’ve comprehended it but a couple of weeks ago, I was playing in the final in Newport and I was 5-1, 40-15 down,” Fearnley said.

“I ended up winning, so it felt like this one was possible.

“The way I was seeing it was that I don’t have a lot to lose.”

Dart ‘soaking up’ Bartoli guidance

Dart arrived in New York having not won a main-draw singles match at a major since reaching the second round of the 2025 Australian Open.

She failed to qualify for four of the next six Grand Slams and fell at the first hurdle at the past two editions of Wimbledon after receiving a wildcard on each occasion.

However, cheered on by her parents, uncle, and numerous cousins at her “home away from home”, Dart downed Stearns to reach the US Open second round for the third time.

The 30-year-old immediately ran to celebrate with her team, which now includes 2013 Wimbledon champion Marion Bartoli.

The pair linked up in January and this latest win builds on a run to the quarter-finals at July’s Challenger tournament in Vancouver and qualification for the Cincinnati Open in August.

“From her experience, she knows what I’m going through, how I’m feeling, how the day starts, how it finishes – everything from the little things to the big things,” Dart said of Bartoli.

“To be able to soak up everything, all of her experience, and learn from her – I feel I’m learning so much every time we speak.

“I feel like I’m improving at a lot of things, which motivates me.”

Dart could not convert any of her four break points in the opening game of the match, with Stearns not offering up another opportunity in the first set.

Stearns piled relentless pressure on the Briton’s serve, eventually breaking in the eighth game.

Dart was broken for a second time in the opening game of the second set but, aided by an increasingly erratic Stearns, whose 40 winners were offset by 47 unforced errors, she secured two breaks of her own to force a decider.

Taking control midway through the third set, Dart completed a crucial hold in the sixth game to end a run of three consecutive breaks before converting her fourth match point to seal a nervy win in a little under two and a half hours.