British tennis player Harriet Dart issued an apology Tuesday after asking an umpire to tell her opponent, France’s Lois Boisson, to wear deodorant during a lopsided loss at the Rouen Open. The comment, caught on a courtside microphone, sparked backlash, but Boisson brushed it off with a playful social media post.
The incident happened during a first-round match on April 15, where Boisson, ranked No. 303, dominated Dart, No. 110, with a 6-0, 6-3 victory. In the second set, during a changeover, Dart spoke to the umpire while Boisson was out of earshot.
“Can you tell her to wear deodorant?” Dart said. “She smells really bad.”
The remark went viral, drawing sharp criticism online. By Tuesday night, Dart took to Instagram to address it.
“I messed up,” she wrote. “It was a heat-of-the-moment comment I truly regret. That’s not who I am, and I’m sorry. I respect Lois and how she played today.”
Boisson, 21, didn’t let it faze her. She posted an edited photo on Instagram, showing herself holding a Dove deodorant can on court.
“Dove, we need a collab,” she joked, adding laughing emojis.
The French wildcard, making her first WTA Tour appearance this season after injuries, moved on to the last 16.
“It’s a bit wild,” said Claire Dubois, a Rouen fan at the match. “You don’t hear that every day, but Boisson handled it like a champ.”
The Women’s Tennis Association hasn’t commented on potential penalties for Dart, 28, who failed to convert six break points in the match. Boisson, meanwhile, is set to face Japan’s Moyuka Uchijima next.
For now, Dart’s apology has closed the chapter, but fans are still buzzing about the unusual exchange.