British tennis player Harriet Dart has issued a public apology after a controversial moment during her first-round match at the Rouen Open. Where she asked the chair umpire to tell her opponent, France’s Lois Boisson, to “wear deodorant.”
The incident took place during a changeover in the second set. Dart, visibly frustrated as she struggled to find momentum in the match, was heard on the court microphones telling the umpire, “She smells really bad,” referring to Boisson.
The exchange quickly spread on social media, drawing widespread criticism for being disrespectful and lacking sportsmanship. In response to the backlash, Dart posted an apology on Instagram:
“Hey everyone, I want to apologise for what I said on court today. It was a heat-of-the-moment comment that I truly regret. That’s not how I want to carry myself, and I take full responsibility. I have a lot of respect for Lois and how she competed today. I’ll learn from this and move forward.”
Boisson, who is ranked 303 in the world and recently returned from injury, stayed composed throughout the match. She went on to defeat Dart 6-0, 6-3 in a dominant performance.
Boisson later addressed the situation in a humorous Instagram post, sharing a photo of herself holding a stick of Dove deodorant with the caption: “@Dove apparently needs a collab,” adding laughing emojis.
The post quickly garnered support and praise from fans for her lighthearted response.
Not the first controversy for Harriet Dart
This is not the first time Dart has made headlines for on-court behavior. At the 2023 Nottingham Open, she sparked criticism for a heated argument with a chair umpire, during which she sarcastically offered to bet £50,000 on a disputed line call.
So far, neither the tournament officials nor the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) has commented on the deodorant incident.
Boisson now advances to the second round, where she will face the winner of the match between Moyuka Uchijima and Nuria Brancaccio.
