British tennis star Harriet Dart asks umpire to get her opponent to put DEODORANT on in bizarre mid-match complaint

By DOMINIC HOGAN

British tennis star Harriet Dart bizarrely asked for her opponent to put on deodorant on the way to a crushing defeat on Tuesday. 

Dart was 6-0 down in the first set and part of the way through the second when Dart was taking a moment at the change of ends, before making her way to the umpire’s chair to make the request. 

Things though failed to improve for Dart, who would go on to lose the second set 6-3 and crash out of the Open de Rouen at the first hurdle at the hands of Lois Boisson.

But only after making one of the most surprising requests to an umpire, which was picked up by the court-side microphones. 

‘Can you tell her to wear deodorant?’ Dart can be heard saying to the umpire. ‘She’s smelling really bad.’

Naturally there were a number of confused social media users who didn’t react too well to the footage, with some even questioning whether Dart should receive further punishment. 

C’est quoi ce délire ???

En plein match, Harriet Dart demande à l’arbitre s’il peut dire à Lois Boisson de mettre du déodorant.

Abusé. Excepté quand ton adversaire passe devant toi au changement de côté, tu ne peux pas sentir son odeur.pic.twitter.com/Djo9nOsCGz

— Tennis Legend (@TennisLegende) April 15, 2025

Harriet Dart was heard making a bizarre request to the umpire in her Open de Rouen defeat

The British tennis star was heard asking the umpire if they could make her opponent put on deodorant

Her rival on the court Lois Boisson though went on to secure a crushing 6-0 6-3 victory

‘Dart should be suspended,’ wrote one.

Another added: ‘This is pathetic if true.’

A third person seemed not to have believed it at first: ‘Lmao thought I misheard but she really said this.’

And a fourth wrote: ‘That is completely unacceptable from  Dart. So disrespectful.’ 

Dart was part of Great Britain’s Billie Jean King Cup squad to reach the competition proper at the weekend after defeating the Netherlands in a qualifier. 

Katie Boulter’s arc of redemption from singles troubles to doubles joy sent Great Britain into the finals of the Billie Jean King Cup.

In a winner-take all tie against hosts Netherlands to decide this group stage, Sonay Kartal won the first rubber before Boulter was beaten in the second singles match.

Captain Anne Keothavong threw her No 1 player straight back in for the deciding doubles and Boulter was irresistible alongside close friend Jodie Burrage in beating Dutch pair Suzan Lamens and Demi Schuurs 6-2, 6-2. 

Dart was part of Great Britain’s team to reach the Billie Jean King Cup after beating the Netherlands

‘It was the energy,’ said Burrage when asked what had fuelled the victory. 

‘The energy from this team, from the crowd, from my partner, from my captain.’ Party time? ‘Definitely a little party – a few bevvies!’

This group will head to Shenzhen in September as one of eight nations to contest the finals. After an almost 20 year absence from the latter stages of this competition, Britain has qualified for a third time in four years.

After the withdrawal of Emma Raducanu last week – citing a need for rest after a busy start to the season – this week was all about Keothavong’s team demonstrating a strength in depth with which they have rarely been associated.

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British tennis star Harriet Dart asks umpire to get her opponent to put DEODORANT on in bizarre mid-match complaint

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