British tennis player Harriet Dart has issued an apology following a controversial incident during the Rouen Open. Dart, who faced French player Lois Boisson in the first round, was caught on microphone asking the chair umpire to request her opponent to wear deodorant, citing an unpleasant smell.
The match ended with Dart losing 6-0, 6-3, but the comment quickly gained attention on social media. Dart later took to Instagram to express regret for her remarks, describing them as a “heat-of-the-moment comment” and acknowledging that they did not reflect the way she wants to conduct herself. She emphasized her respect for Boisson and vowed to learn from the experience.
Boisson, on her part, responded with humor, sharing an edited photo on Instagram featuring a Dove deodorant and tagging the brand for a potential collaboration. Her light-hearted approach has been praised by fans, adding a touch of levity to the situation.
This incident highlights the challenges of maintaining composure under pressure in professional sports. Dart’s apology and Boisson’s response serve as reminders of the importance of sportsmanship and resilience in the face of unexpected situations.
This was her apology:
“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. Harriet.”
Harriet Dart in 2025
Ranked no.110, the Brit played her last match on the 15th of April when she was overcome by world no.303 Lois Boisson 6-0 6-3 in the 1st round in Rouen (draw).
At the moment, during this season Harriet achieved a composed 8-9 record. Harriet Dart’s most significant accomplishment of this year was getting to the final in the W75 Porto.