British tennis player Harriet Dart has issued an apology after making derogatory remarks about her French opponent’s body odor during a first-round match at the Rouen Open. Dart, who suffered a straight-set loss to Lois Boisson, 6-0 6-3, was heard asking the umpire during a changeover in the second set if her opponent could be asked to put on deodorant. Dart’s comments were captured on the broadcast, where she was heard saying, “Can you ask her to put on deodorant? She smells really bad.”
The match had already seen Dart struggle significantly, with Boisson dominating the first set, which was over in just 28 minutes. Dart was unable to convert any of her six break points during the match, and Boisson’s serve proved too much for her to handle. The French player went on to claim a comfortable victory, securing her place in the last 16 of the tournament.
After the match, Dart took to Instagram to issue a public apology for her comments. She acknowledged that her remark was made in the heat of the moment, and she expressed regret for what she had said. “I want to apologise for what I said on court today, it was a heat-of-the-moment comment that I truly regret,” Dart wrote on her Instagram story. “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.”
Although Boisson was not in earshot when the comment was made, as she had already walked back onto the court while Dart was seated, she later addressed the incident with humor on her own Instagram. Boisson posted an edited photo of herself holding a can of deodorant and joked that toiletries company Dove “apparently need a collab,” suggesting a lighthearted response to the uncomfortable situation.
Boisson’s victory over Dart was significant, especially given the French player’s recent struggles with injury. This win marked Boisson’s first WTA Tour appearance of the season, and she managed to upset the 62nd-ranked Dart, who had been a favorite to win the match. Boisson is currently ranked 303rd in the world and has had a difficult year returning from injury. However, she played with confidence, holding her serve and capitalizing on Dart’s unforced errors to secure the win.
Dart’s performance was a disappointment, particularly considering that the Briton had failed to make it past the first round in her previous tournament, the Charleston Open, where she also lost to Varvara Gracheva. As Dart looks ahead to the upcoming French Open, this loss marks an early setback in her preparation for the clay-court season.
While the on-court incident may have overshadowed the match itself, both players are likely to move forward, with Boisson gaining confidence from her impressive performance and Dart reflecting on the need to maintain composure in future matches. The Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) has yet to comment on the incident, but it remains to be seen whether further action will be taken in relation to Dart’s comments.
For Dart, the road to recovery and improvement continues, and this incident serves as a reminder of the pressures and challenges players face both on and off the court. It will be interesting to see how she responds to this setback as she prepares for the next leg of her season.
