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Evening Standard
Evening Standard
Sport
Pa Sport Staff and Standard Sport

'She smells really bad': Harriet Dart sorry after asking for opponent to 'wear deodorant' at Rouen Open

Criticism: Harriet Dart was met with a backlash after her comments made about opponent Lois Boisson in the first round of the Rouen Open - (Getty Images for LTA)

British No4 Harriet Dart has apologised after requesting her opponent at the Rouen Open put on deodorant because she "smells really bad".

The 28-year-old was beaten 6-0 6-3 by French player Lois Boisson in the first round of the tournament.

Dart sparked controversy during a change of ends when she asked the umpire: "Can you tell her (Boisson) to wear deodorant because she smells really bad?"

Her comments were picked up by a courtside microphone and attracted criticism on social media.

"Hey everyone, I want to apologise for what I said on court today, it was a heat-of-the-moment comment that I truly regret," Dart posted 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."

Boisson, who made her first WTA Tour appearance of the season and is working her way back up from 303rd in the world rankings after struggling with injury, wrapped up the opening set in just 28 minutes.

Dart - the world No110 - put up a better fight in the second set but failed to convert any of her six break points as Boisson eased through.

Boisson later poked fun at the deodorant incident on social media, posting a picture of herself to her Instagram stories with a photoshopped Dove roll-on and the comment: “@Dove apparently need a collab.”

British No3 Sonay Kartal, who was seeded eighth, lost 6-3 6-2 to France's Varvara Gracheva.

Cameron Norrie suffered a first-round exit at the Barcelona Open following a 6-7 (3) 6-4 6-3 defeat to world No27 Karen Khachanov.

British No3 Norrie, who has dropped to 88th in the ATP rankings, saved a set point en route to taking a tight opening set on a tie-break.

Having lost the opening three games of set two, the 29-year-old qualifier looked on course for the last 16 after going 4-3 ahead with a break of serve.

But Russian Khachanov immediately hit back before securing progression in two hours and 18 minutes to set up a meeting with Spaniard Jaume Munar.

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