Britain’s Harriet Dart ended a 19-month wait for a Grand Slam singles win by battling back to beat Peyton Stearns in the US Open first round.

World number 131 Dart had not won a main-draw singles match at a major since reaching the second round of the 2025 Australian Open.

The 30-year-old 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.

Taken to three sets in all three of her US Open qualifying matches – including losing the opening set against Kristina Penickova and Heather Watson – Dart once again took the scenic route in New York on Monday.

Trailing by a set and a break against American opponent Stearns, who is ranked more than 75 places above her, she fought back to win 3-6 6-3 6-2.

Dart joins compatriots Toby Samuel and Katie Boulter in the second round, where she will face 25th seed Marie Bouzkova.

Dart immediately ran to celebrate with her team, which now includes 2013 Wimbledon champion Marion Bartoli.

The pair linked up before this year’s French Open 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.

“She’s a Grand Slam champion, so I can speak to her about her experiences, the way she sees the game and the way she sees my game,” Dart told BBC Radio 5 during qualifying.

“Her tennis IQ – and her IQ generally – is insane.

“It’s just about trying to grow and improve everything I can. I was really pleased she was able to come on board and grateful she’s here for me.”

Dart could not convert any of her four break points in the opening game of the match, with Stearns not offering 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, Dart secured two breaks of her own to force a decider.

Seizing 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.