Dart and Jones exits end British singles run at 2026 US Open

British involvement in the 2026 US Open singles ended in the second round after Harriet Dart and Francesca Jones were beaten by seeded opponents in New York. BBC Sport reported that Dart lost 6-2 6-2 to Czech 25th seed Marie Bouzkova, before Jones fell 6-4 6-4 to American 14th seed Iva Jovic.

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Dart, ranked 131st in the world, played in temperatures of about 30C and said she had been feeling unwell. The 30-year-old used ice towels and cold-air hoses during changeovers as she tried to manage the heat. She also struggled on serve, producing eight double faults and landing 45% of her first serves.

Bouzkova took control by winning seven consecutive games, a sequence that secured the opening set and gave her a double-break advantage in the second. Dart could not recover, and Bouzkova completed the straight-sets victory to arrange a third-round match against Polish eighth seed Iga Swiatek.

Jones entered her contest ranked 90 places below Jovic but extended the match to one hour and 54 minutes. The 18-year-old American established a double break and a 3-0 lead in the first set through deep baseline hitting. Jones recovered one break and stayed close, although she was unable to convert a break point when Jovic served for the set.

Jovic then moved 4-1 ahead in the second set before Jones again reduced the deficit. The Briton saved three match points on her own serve, but Jovic closed out the victory with a strong service game. She will face Alexandra Eala, described by BBC Sport as a close friend, in the third round.

The exits completed a difficult second round for the British contingent. Nine British players appeared across the main singles draws, the most at the US Open since 1981, and four had advanced through qualifying. Five reached round two, but Jacob Fearnley was the only one to take a set as all five lost to seeds. Fearnley was beaten in four sets by Tomas Martin Etcheverry, Toby Samuel lost to Jiri Lehecka, and Katie Boulter was defeated by Wimbledon runner-up Karolina Muchova. Cameron Norrie, Arthur Fery, Harry Wendelken and Jan Choinski had exited in the opening round.