British tennis star forced to apologise after asking opponent to 'put on deodorant'

British tennis player Harriet Dart has been forced to apologise after complaining about the body odour of her opponent during a match in the Rouen Open on Tuesday. Dart complained about French player Lois Boisson to the chair umpire during a changeover. However, what shook the fans was the nature of the complaint.

Dart wasn’t asking for some action against a foul or error, she asked the umpire to tell Boisson to put on deodorant. “Can you tell her (Boisson) to wear deodorant? … Because she smells really bad,” Dart was heard saying.

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

Harriet Dart apologises after criticism over deodorant remarks

Dart’s request immediately went viral on social media with the fans lambasting the 28-year-old for her behaviour. One user asked her to be “ashamed of herself” while another said that Dart “sucks as a human”.

@harriet_dart well played for the publicity. however you suck as a human being and most importantly as an alleged tennis player

— David Hudgins (@DavidHudgins3) April 16, 2025

Harriet Dart should be ashamed of herself, losing to tell Lois Boisson then complains to the ref about her smelling bad, it's horrific and shows you what type of person Harriet Dart is

— Jenson Harris (@JensonHarris121) April 15, 2025

Harriet Dart ASKED WHAAATTT???? 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣FOR REALLL??? 😭😭😭😭😭😂😂😂😂 pic.twitter.com/DVHikRXeC6

— Shaheen (@topgooner100) April 15, 2025

Dart has now apologised for her actions. “Tt was a heat-of-the-moment comment that I truly regret,” she wrote on Instagram. “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.”

Harriet Dart apologies for her comments during her match.

Not sure she is going to get much sympathy on this one...... pic.twitter.com/WPDpLS04S9

— Chris Goldsmith (@TheTennisTalker) April 15, 2025

Coming to the match. Dart was thrashed 6-0, 6-3 by Boisson in the first round.

Despite facing personal remarks against her, Boisson handled the situation expertly as he gave a light-hearted response. On Instagram, she posted an edited picture of herself on the court with a Dove deodorant added to her hand. She tagged the company and wrote that they “apparently need a collab.”

Lois Boisson’s response to Harriet Dart saying she needs to wear deodorant during their match 💀💀💀💀💀

“Dove, apparently we need a collaboration” https://t.co/S4u0dgevPS pic.twitter.com/0E5ckZhULn

— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) April 15, 2025

It was Boisson’s first WTA Tour appearance of the season as she tries to work her way back up from 303rd in the rankings after injuries.