Respect should always have a place in sports-especially when tensions run high. But British tennis player Harriet Dart might’ve let her frustration get the better of her when she made a not-so-subtle jab at her opponent’s hygiene. During a match at the Rouen Open, Dart told the umpire that French player Lois Boisson “smells really bad” and asked if she could wear deodorant. Needless to say, the moment quickly spiraled beyond the court and into viral territory, and it wasn’t a good look for Dart.
The comment came as Dart was facing a crushing defeat-Boisson dominated the match 6-0, 6-3-so it’s not hard to see where the bitterness might’ve come from. But instead of sympathy, Dart earned backlash. What was meant as a private complaint got caught by on-court mics, and now the line is following her across the internet. Let’s just say, “she smells really bad” is not the quote you want to be known for after a loss.
Boisson claps back with class
While Dart faced the heat, Boisson kept her cool and even made light of the situation. Fans jumped in with memes, and Boisson cheekily reached out to Dove on social media, hinting at a potential collab. Talk about turning an awkward moment into a power move. Boisson didn’t just win the match-she might’ve won the internet too.
Now here’s some real food for thought-imagine if Boisson had been the one throwing shade after a win. It’d be called out instantly as bullying. And that’s what makes Dart’s comment feel extra sour: it wasn’t just unsportsmanlike, it felt like a low blow meant to sting, not serve.
Time for sports to do better
Moments like this are a reminder that the lines we cross in frustration can leave a bigger mark than the scoreboard. Words stick, and sometimes they stick for all the wrong reasons. Tennis, like any sport, should be a space where competitiveness doesn’t come at the cost of basic human respect.
Sure, emotions run wild in the heat of a match. We’ve all said things we wish we could take back. But when you’re on a public stage, with mics hot and cameras rolling, it’s a different ball game. Dart’s remark wasn’t just offside-it was unnecessary, and it overshadowed the actual play.
At the end of the day, athletes are role models, whether they like it or not. And if we start normalizing personal digs like this, we chip away at the integrity of the game. Banter is one thing-but dragging someone over hygiene, especially in the middle of a loss? That’s just bad form.
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