Barty wary of wounded warrior

Ash Barty a potentially dangerous twin hurdle in her Wimbledon campaign tonight: a woman scorned and a designer handbag.

Australia's Ashleigh Barty returns to Belgium's Alison Van Uytvanck in their round two match at Wimbledon. Picture: AP

Ash Barty has overcome many challenges to become world No 1 but tonight she faces a potentially dangerous twin hurdle in her Wimbledon campaign: a woman scorned and a designer handbag.

Barty’s British wildcard opponent, Harriet Dart, is super ­motivated after mixed-doubles partner Jay Clarke dumped her via text message at the last minute, despite the pairing getting to the Wimbledon semi-finals last year.

Clarke decided his chances of doubles success would be enhanced if he linked up with the formidable 15-year-old American sensation Cori Gauff, and let Dart know with a beep on her phone she was surplus to requirements.

The 22-year-old Londoner has channelled her bewilderment and anger into her singles game, dispensing the Brazilian Beatriz Haddad Maia, whose form was seasoned enough to beat the 2017 Wimbledon champion Garbine Muguruza, but the hurt lingers and Barty will need to be wary of the wounded warrior.

Dart — coached by an Australian, Goran Marijan — has a bit of Nick Kyrgios temperament about her and for the first time in the Championships, Barty will have to contend with emotional fireworks at the other end of the court.

With the match expected to be scheduled on one of the show courts, the pro-Dart crowd will add a layer of complexity to the match. Dart has already had Kate Middleton watch one of her matches and royalty could once again be courtside.

“There’s an element of danger against everyone you play,’’ said Barty, who has retreated to the pre-match analysis that has worked so well this year to notch up 14 successive wins.

“You have to make sure you know exactly how you want to play the match.

“I haven’t played with her ­before, haven’t hit with her. ­Obviously, it is a little bit new for both of us.”

Barty didn’t watch Nick Kyrgios’s finest match in ages on Thursday night, but she may have picked up a tip from the way ­Rafael Nadal ignored Kyrgios’s remonstrations with the umpire and the bullet-like shots directly fired at him at the net.

Coach Craig Tyzzer said Barty sometimes lingers a bit too long on her own frustrations, usually ­because she has messed up a point or not followed her strategies.

It is a hidden anger the methodical Barty is able to conceal from the crowd, but Tyzzer knows the signs, and with performance coach Ben Crowe they have been working with her to refocus.

If anyone is to be overwhelmed by the occasion, it is more likely to be Dart.

She is a self-admitted emotional player.

“I think I’m a very fiery type of competitor,” said Dart. “I think that definitely shows. I’m such a fighter. I want to win every point.

“I think sometimes my emotions might get the better of me as you probably saw from parts of the match today. I think it’s really important that I regrouped and I was able to come out on top.’’

Dart suffered an ankle injury in her first round but appears unimpeded and says she has the carefree bonus of having nothing to lose.

“There’s no question about it,’’ she said. “I’m playing the best player in the world at the moment and whose form has been unbelievable.

“Again, this is just a great ­opportunity for me to see where my tennis is at.’’

Dart has her eye on a handbag if she beats Barty: a Celine calfskin number she spotted while having an ice bath in the players’ area.

“I really liked it,” she said.

“I really quite want one.” When quizzed how much of her prizemoney she would have to part with, Dart smiled: “I dread to think.’’

Barty’s motivations are less commercial. This is a woman whose stud earrings dance and sparkle in the sunlight, but she then admits the diamonds are “fakey $5 ones’’.

On Thursday, Barty admitted to taking the time to reflect on the past few weeks and winning the French Open and Birmingham ­titles — and she takes so much pleasure from her three-year-old niece Lucy.

“It’s been an incredible journey, it really has,’’ said a happy looking Barty. “It has been important for us to celebrate the little things. It’s even nice when I call back home a lot of the time. I chat to my niece. Over and over she tells me you can go to infinity and beyond. She’s an incredible little girl who gives me so much inspiration.

“It’s been a very nice journey for myself, my team, my family, everyone. To be where we are now is really special.’’