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Tennis player insults opponent with deodorant comment

Originally posted on Larry Brown Sports | By Larry Brown | Last updated Apr 15, 2025 7:42 PM ET

Tennis player Harriet Dart made headlines on Tuesday when she insulted her opponent with a deodorant comment.

Dart was facing Lois Boisson in the first round of the Open de Rouen in France. Boisson won the match 6-0, 6-3, and Dart seemed frustrated during the second set and took it out with a nasty comment.

After Boisson had walked by to the other side of the court following a change-over, Dart complained to the chair umpire about the way Boisson smelled.

“Can you tell her to wear deodorant? It smells really bad every time she walks by,” Dart said.

Harriet Dart asked the umpire to tell her opponent to wear deodorant

She lost the match 6-0 6-3

(h/t @popalorena)
pic.twitter.com/kk5Wm69jTd
— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) April 15, 2025

Boisson winning the match easily in straight sets seemed like some measure of justice against that nasty insult.

Dart did apologize via social media after the match.

She called it a “heat-of-the-moment” comment that she truly regretted.

“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,” Dart wrote in her apology.

Harriet Dart apologizes for asking the umpire to tell her opponent to wear deodorant. pic.twitter.com/YHpgMQgMak
— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) April 15, 2025