British tennis player Harriet Dart has issued a public apology after making a controversial comment about her opponent’s body odour during a first-round loss at the Rouen Open.
During a second-set changeover, with emotions clearly running high, Dart was caught on the broadcast asking the umpire:
“Can you ask her to put on deodorant? She smells really bad.”
Her opponent, 21-year-old French wildcard Lois Boisson, appeared not to hear the comment—but it didn’t go unnoticed by viewers or the media.
To her credit, Dart didn’t shy away from taking responsibility. Later that day, she posted a sincere apology via her Instagram stories:
“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.”
The world No. 303 Boisson appeared unbothered by the situation. In fact, she showed great humour by later posting an edited Instagram photo of herself holding a can of deodorant, tagging the brand Dove and suggesting they “apparently need a collab.”
On the court, Boisson delivered a commanding performance, defeating Dart 6-0 6-3 and advancing to the second round. Boisson was playing her first WTA match of the season after recovering from injury. Dart, ranked 110th, has now suffered back-to-back first-round losses on clay as she builds towards the French Open.
It was an unfortunate moment for the 28-year-old Dart—both in terms of sportsmanship and match result—but her prompt apology shows accountability. Boisson’s lighthearted and humorous response prevented the situation from escalating, reflecting a calm confidence and maturity.
