Dart credits Bartoli's backing for renewed belief after Guangzhou breakthrough

Harriet Dart has credited coach Marion Bartoli with rebuilding her confidence after winning the first WTA title of her career at the Guangzhou Open. Speaking to BBC Sport following Sunday's victory over Austrian teenager Lilli Tagger, the 30-year-old Briton said the former Wimbledon champion's belief in her had helped change her own view of what she could achieve.

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Bartoli began working with Dart on a part-time basis at the start of the season, when the British player was outside the world's top 160. Both live near each other in Dubai, where they organise training blocks between Dart's tournaments. Bartoli, the 2013 Wimbledon winner and a former world number seven, also hits with Dart during practice.

The arrangement does not involve travelling together throughout the season. Bartoli has a young family, although the pair have worked together at tournaments, particularly this year's Grand Slams. She watched the Guangzhou final from home and supplied observations remotely during the event. Dart was accompanied in China by fitness trainer Dario Gonfiantini and boyfriend Stephen Falck, leaving her to make many of her own decisions on court.

Dart told the BBC that Bartoli's support had been valuable beyond technical work, describing a coach who cared about her personally as well as about her progress as a player. Despite being at a different career stage from younger competitors, Dart said she still saw opportunities to improve. She hopes their partnership will include more weeks together next year.

The Guangzhou result gives that work a measurable return. Ranked 115th during the tournament, Dart is projected to move to 83rd on Monday. She has won 19 of her 24 tour-level hard-court matches since Wimbledon, bringing her WTA Tour record this season to 23 victories in 34 matches, her best career winning percentage.

Britain's women's team captain Anne Keothavong also told BBC Sport she had noticed greater confidence in Dart. Keothavong included her in September's Billie Jean King Cup Finals squad without selecting her to play, but was impressed by her hitting in practice. She praised Dart's longstanding professionalism and work ethic following the title win.