Harriet Dart misses out on a maiden WTA final after losing to Karolina Pliskova in straight sets at the Transylvania Open - but British No 3 will return to the world's top 100 after career-best week

Harriet Dart won two qualifiers to reach the main draw but loss in the semi-finals Britain's Dart was defeated 6-3 6-3 by the former World No 1 Karolina Pliskova Dart can console herself with the knowledge she will now return to the top 100

Harriet Dart’s hopes of following up her first WTA Tour semi-final appearance with a maiden final were emphatically dashed by Karolina Pliskova at the Transylvania Open.

The British No 3 had enjoyed a career-best week in Romania, winning two qualifiers to make the main draw and then three more matches to reach the last four.

But things were tougher against Pliskova, the former world No 1 who bullied the Briton to a 6-3 6-3 triumph. The Czech, a former Wimbledon and US Open semi-finalist, will play Romania’s Ana Bogdan in Sunday’s final.

Once the disappointment of the near-miss wears off, Dart can console herself with the knowledge she will be returning to the world’s top 100 in this week’s rankings.

And she certainly improved on her last clash with Pliskova. That was in Doha last year when the British player won just three games.

Harriet Dart’s was knocked out of the Transylvania Open after losing to Karolina Pliskova

Dart’s hopes of reaching a maiden WTA final were emphatically dashed by the 6-3 6-3 defeat

In Cluj she at least stayed competitive and bravely fought back from 4-0 down in the second set to stay in the tie.

But Pliskova was brutal on any errors by Dart, who won just eight out of 32 points on a second serve that was simply too weak.

Pliskova, 31, said: ‘That was hard because she stayed in the points but I haven’t played in a final for a while so I’m looking forward to it.’