It is the second time in less than a month that the British numbers one and two have fought a marathon battle, after Boulter defeated Dart in Nottingham over three hours and 13 minutes on her way to a third WTA Tour title.

She was the clear favourite but paid the price for making 75 unforced errors, failing to reach the last 32 for a third successive year.

Born just four days apart, Dart and Boulter know each other’s games inside out and both players appeared to be nervous with the tension replicated within the crowd, who did not have an obvious player to support.

Over the course of the match, Dart created the most chances and Boulter almost got over the line despite herself, only to falter when she appeared to have taken control of the tie-break.

A single break of serve gave Boulter the first set, after Dart was unable to convert three chances to get the first break in the fifth game.

Boulter’s level dropped alarmingly in the second set and she failed to hold serve in three attempts as Dart quickly levelled the match.

The decider was a tight scrap over 94 minutes. Boulter had the first chances but made three forehand errors on break points before, at 2-2, Dart broke on her sixth break point as another forehand from her opponent went awry.

Leading 4-2, Dart had a point for a double break but Boulter saved it and then levelled at 4-4 with a down-the-line backhand as they went on to a first-to-10-points tie-break.

When Dart had to wipe tears from her eyes at the back of the court at 6-2 down, defeat was looming but she dug in and Boulter’s forehand broke down again as she lost to a Briton on the main tour for the first time.