Britain’s Harriet Dart hailed the “community” of supporters who roared her on as she ended a 19-month wait for a Grand Slam win with a battling victory over Peyton Stearns at the US Open.

Cheered on by her parents, uncle, and numerous cousins at her “home away from home”, Dart came back from a set and a break down to reach the second round in New York.

The 30-year-old had 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.

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 at Flushing Meadows.

She took advantage of the fluctuating form of American opponent Stearns, who is ranked more than 75 places above her, to win 3-6 6-3 6-2.

Dart, who will face 25th seed Marie Bouzkova in the second round, 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,” world number 131 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 also said she had several family supporters dotted around New York.

“My uncle and cousins live here, one of my cousins from the UK is over at the moment, my mum has been here since I started in qualifying, and my dad flew in last night,” she said.

“New York always feels like a home away from home.

“It feels like a community for me and I really felt the support out there.”

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.

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.

Dart joins compatriots Toby Samuel and Katie Boulter in the second round.