British tennis player Harriet Dart has sparked controversy following an on-court remark during her first-round match at the Rouen Open on Tuesday, as reported by the Mirror.
The 28-year-old, currently ranked British No. 4, made headlines after she complained to the umpire about her opponent Lois Boisson’s body odour during a changeover. Dart, who had lost the first set 6-0 and was trailing in the second, was heard saying, “Can you tell her to wear deodorant? She smells really bad.”
The umpire did not respond to Dart’s repeated request, and Boisson, seemingly unaware of the comment at the time, returned to the court to resume play. The French player later posted match clips on her Instagram story, without addressing the incident.
In response to the backlash, Dart issued a public apology via social media, acknowledging her words were inappropriate and expressing regret for her behaviour.
Dart posted a public apology on Instagram, saying, “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.”
The episode has sparked a wider conversation online, with fans and commentators debating the professionalism and sportsmanship of the moment.
