Harriet Dart made a strange request to the umpire during her tough loss to Lois Boisson in Stuttgart, asking if her opponent could freshen up. The 28-year-old was soundly beaten 6-0, 6-3 in the first round of the Open de Rouen, but it wasn’t just Boisson’s strong performance that seemed to trouble her.
During a break in the second set, Dart stood up and walked over to the official, where she was clearly heard saying, “Can you tell her to wear deodorant?” The umpire appeared confused, prompting Dart to seemingly repeat the request before preparing to return serve.
It wasn’t only the unpleasant odor that likely frustrated Dart after the match. She managed to win just three games in a crushing defeat and has now suffered three singles losses in a row.
While some fans found humor in the situation online, others criticized Dart for her unusual comment. One user, @SeivwrightTrudy, remarked: “This two-second insult will come back to haunt Harriet. Why should an umpire be responsible for a player’s body odor?”
TennisCouchTalk also criticized the incident harshly, stating, “All jokes aside, this is completely unprofessional! You’re here to play tennis, not attend a fashion show.”
Dart may come to regret her unusual outburst, as some fans have speculated that the WTA Tour or LTA could review the incident and potentially consider her conduct inappropriate.
Her 2025 season has been off to a rocky start, despite receiving a lifeline at the Australian Open. After falling short in the qualifiers, she was granted entry as a ‘lucky loser’ due to player withdrawals and managed to reach the second round.
