British tennis player Harriet Dart has issued a public apology following her controversial remarks about her opponent, Lois Boisson, during the Rouen Open in France. Dart was overheard on court microphones asking the umpire to tell Boisson to "put on deodorant," claiming she "smells really bad" during their first-round match, which Dart lost 6-0, 6-3.
The incident occurred during a changeover in the second set when Dart, struggling against the 21-year-old French player ranked 303rd in the world, made the comments while Boisson was out of earshot. The remarks sparked backlash on social media, prompting Dart to address the situation on Instagram.
In her statement, Dart expressed regret for her "heat-of-the-moment" comment, stating, "That's not how I want to carry myself, and I take full responsibility." She acknowledged her respect for Boisson and vowed to learn from the experience.
Boisson's victory over the higher-ranked Dart was a notable upset, as she managed to break Dart's serve four times throughout the match. Dart's loss marked a disappointing start to her clay-court season following an earlier defeat at the Charleston Open.
The Women's Tennis Association (WTA) has yet to comment on the incident, which raises questions about sportsmanship and player conduct on the court.
