Harriet Dart apologises for 'heat-of-the-moment' deodorant jibe about opponent at WTA Rouen

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Harriet Dart has apologised for comments that she made about her opponent Lois Boisson during her first-round defeat at the Rouen Open. Dart, the British No. 4, asked the chair umpire to request that Boisson wear deodorant because "she smells really bad". Dart, who apologised on her Instagram story afterwards, lost the match 6-0 6-3 as her winless streak continues.

Harriet Dart

Image credit: TNT Sports

Harriet Dart has issued an apology for asking the umpire if her opponent could "wear deodorant".

Dart, the British No. 4, was playing against Frenchwoman Lois Boisson in the first round at the Rouen Open on Tuesday.

The Briton lost in straight sets to the 21-year-old - 6-0 6-3 - and she was bagelled inside just 28 minutes in the opener.

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During the second set, on-court microphones caught Dart telling the chair umpire that Boisson "smells really bad".

Now, Dart, the world No. 62, has apologised for her comments, saying that it was something she "truly regrets".

The 28-year-old took to her Instagram story to say: "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."

It didn’t seem as though Boisson had heard Dart’s comments, having walked back onto court after a bathroom break, while the Briton was sat in her chair.

However, it looks as though the world No. 303 took it well, taking to Instagram to jokingly ask deodorant brand Dove for a "collab" in an edited picture that showed her holding the antiperspirant.

Lois Boisson on Instagram

Image credit: Instagram

Dart, who came from qualifying to reach the second round of the Australian Open earlier this year, has not progressed past the opening stage of a tournament since Melbourne, with her most recent defeat coming on clay against Varvara Gracheva, another Frenchwoman, at the Charleston Open.

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