British tennis player Harriet Dart asked an umpire to tell her French opponent to wear deodorant after claiming “she smells really bad” during a heavy defeat in Rouen.
In comments picked up by courtside microphones, the Brit attacked Lois Boisson’s personal hygiene during an ill-tempered 6-0, 6-3 humbling for Dart. The unkind public comments leave her potentially at risk of action for unsporting behaviour from the WTA.
Dart had addressed the umpire as she got to her feet shortly after Boisson walked past her during the second set of her first-round encounter in the Rouen Open.
“Can you tell her to wear deodorant?” Dart asked. With the umpire seemingly confused, she then seemed to repeat the question, “Because the smell,” Dart said. “Can you tell her to wear deodorant? She smells really bad.”
Hours later, Dart issued an apology on Instagram, saying: “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.”
