By Tom Morgan
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 Briton questioned Lois Boisson’s 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 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. Can you tell her to wear deodorant? She smells really bad.”
Hours later, Dart apologised 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.
The Briton, who is No.62 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. Boisson then served out to seal victory.
Dart was appearing in her second claycourt 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.
Harriet Dart asked the umpire if her opponent could wear deodorant.Credit: Getty Images for LTA
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.
The Telegraph, London
