The 30-year-old defeated Austria’s up-and-coming teenage sensation Lilli Tagger, ranked number 53 on the WTA Tour Driven by Mercedes-Benz world rankings, 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 in two hours and 18 minutes on the hardcourts of Nansha International Tennis Centre, Guangzhou, China to scoop the $37,390 (£27,700) winners’ cheque along with lifting the plate-type trophy.

Dart’s journey to being champion in this WTA250-ranked event began in the first qualifying round beating Hong Kong’s Cheuk Ying Shek 5-7, 7-6(5), 6-1. After easily disposing Mei Yamaguchi from Japan 6-2, 6-1 in the final qualifying round, the GB Billie Jean King Cup regular disposed Russia’s Tatiana Prozorova (6-4, 2-6, 6-2), world-ranked 46 Janice Tjen of Indonesia (6-4, 3-6, 6-3), Spain’s former world number two Paula Badosa (3-6, 6-2, 6-4) and Chinese home favourite Sun Xinran (5-7, 7-6(1), 6-0) before defeating Tagger, the 2025 Roland Garros junior girls singles champion Tagger and this year’s Livesport Prague Open WTA 250 event winner, in the final.

During the summer months Dart won two WTA Tour doubles titles alongside Glasgow-based Maia Lumsden also at WTA 250 level. The Lexus Nottingham Open during the pre-Wimbledon build up in June was later followed by Livesport Prague Open.

“It’s been years and years of playing since I was a little girl and it was something I’ve dreamt of being able to lift a trophy on the WTA Tour,” Dart told BBC Sport. “To be able to finally do it, I think many people counted me out many times.

"It's a bit crazy to be honest to sitting here as champion after coming through qualifying - it's mad really.

"It's been an incredible week for me and I'm super proud of myself. To be able to come through a week like this and leave here as champion is pretty cool and something new for me.”

This success in the Southern Chinese city has seen Dart return into the WTA Tour’s world top 100 rankings for the first time since November 2024 to number 84. She will also go straight into the main women’s singles draw of next year’s Grand Slam-season opener Australian Open in January.