Tennis player Harriet Dart criticises opponent’s hygiene, issues apology

Harriet Dart of Great Britain. Photo / Getty Images

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 target="_self" rel="" title="https://www.nzherald.co.nz/topic/grooming/">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.”

Dart, 28, was swept aside in the opening set in 28 minutes by Boisson, who made her first WTA Tour appearance of the season after struggling with injury.

Photo / Instagram

The Brit, who is currently 110th in the WTA world rankings, put up a better fight in the second set, but failed to convert any of her six break points and lost her serve for the fourth time in the match to trail 5-3 before Boisson served out to seal victory.

Dart was appearing in her second clay-court match of the season – she lost to Varvara Gracheva last month in the first round in Charleston – while Boisson, 21, is working her way back up from 303 in the rankings.

Dart’s controversial outburst came after she said in January that the atmosphere during her Australian Open second-round defeat was “like a football match” as she called for greater “respect” from fans.