British tennis player Harriet Dart has issued a public apology following an incident at the Rouen Open, where she faced French player Lois Boisson.
Dart, after being defeated with a score of 6-0 and 6-3, was caught by the cameras asking the judge to urge Boisson to use deodorant, alleging that “she smells very bad”.
Can you ask him to put on deodorant? He smells really bad.
Harriet Dart
Dart’s statement generated a wave of reactions on social media. Faced with this, the British tennis player spoke out via Instagram.
In his post, Dart expressed his regret for the comment, describing it as an impulsive act and taking full responsibility. He also expressed his respect for Boisson and his performance in the match.
Boisson, for his part, reacted with humor to the incident. He posted on Instagram a picture of himself on the court, with a Dove deodorant edited onto his hand, and invited the brand to a collaboration.
Boisson’s victory, currently ranked 303rd, represented a significant surprise, as it marked her first appearance on the WTA circuit of the season after an injury. Dart, ranked 62nd, failed to convert any of her six break points and lost her serve on four occasions.
