Harriet Dart has issued an apology after making a remark about her opponent’s personal hygiene during her first-round loss at the Rouen Open. The British No. 4, who was defeated 6-0, 6-3 by French player Lois Boisson, requested that the umpire ask her opponent to wear deodorant, citing that she “smelled really bad.” Dart’s comments, overheard by a courtside microphone, sparked criticism on social media, with many expressing disappointment over her choice of words.
After the match, Dart took to Instagram to express regret over her behavior. She acknowledged that her comment was made in the heat of the moment and was something she deeply regretted. Dart emphasized that this was not reflective of how she intended to conduct herself and that she took full responsibility for her actions. She also expressed respect for Boisson and her competitive spirit, recognizing the French player’s resilience, especially after returning from injury and working her way back up the rankings. Dart concluded her message by vowing to learn from the incident and to be more mindful in the future.
The match itself saw Dart struggle against Boisson, who cruised through the first set in just 28 minutes. Dart put up a slightly better fight in the second set but was unable to capitalize on any of her six break points, allowing Boisson to finish the match in straight sets. This defeat marked a disappointing start for Dart at the Rouen Open as she looked to make progress in the tournament.
Boisson, who was making her first WTA Tour appearance of the season, has been battling injuries and is currently ranked No. 303 in the world. Despite her struggles, she showed impressive form in the match, easing through both sets with relative ease. Boisson’s victory at the Rouen Open was an encouraging sign as she continues to rebuild her career after a period of setbacks.
In other tennis news, British No. 3 Sonay Kartal also suffered a first-round loss, falling 6-3, 6-2 to France’s Varvara Gracheva, who has been in strong form recently. Kartal, who was seeded eighth in the tournament, was unable to mount a comeback after losing the first set, and Gracheva’s solid performance ensured a quick and decisive win.
Meanwhile, Britain’s Cameron Norrie also faced an early exit at the Barcelona Open, losing 6-7 (3), 6-4, 6-3 to Russia’s world No. 27, Karen Khachanov. Norrie, ranked 88th in the ATP rankings, had a competitive first set, saving a set point before eventually securing the tiebreak. However, he was unable to maintain his momentum, and after losing the first three games of the second set, he found himself trailing. Norrie fought back and managed to break Khachanov’s serve to take a 4-3 lead, but Khachanov responded quickly and secured his place in the next round after a hard-fought two-hour match. Khachanov’s victory set up a meeting with Spain’s Jaume Munar in the next round of the tournament.
These early exits from Dart, Kartal, and Norrie highlight the challenges faced by British players in recent tournaments. However, with the season still young, there are plenty of opportunities for them to regroup and make a stronger push in the coming weeks.
