I stunk when I called you a stinker

Hard-fought tennis game at the Open de Rouen. French player Loïs Boisson dominating. British player Harriet Dart struggling. As they changed ends, Dart spoke to the umpire. “Can you tell her to use deodorant because she smells really bad?”

This was picked up by a microphone so lots of people got to hear it, though probably not Boisson, who continued to trounce Dart. 6-0, 6-3. Game over.

Later, Dart posted on Instagram, “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. 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.”

Good or bad apology?

It’s probably true that it was heat-of-the-moment stupidity, rather than some kind of diabolical middle-school strategy. Umpires don’t pass messages between players. Opposing tennis players aren’t in sniffing range of each other.

But if Dart genuinely wants to take responsibility, she should apologize directly to Boisson, and not only to the public “everyone” who heard this silliness. And then, as she said, learn from this. And only then, “move forward.”

Boisson did hear about it, after all, and posted a photo of herself into which a container of deodorant had been Photoshopped, captioned “@dove apparently need a collab”

Amusing, and de-escalating. Well played.

Another deodorant brand hopped into the conversation, saying their product is better than Dove’s.

Battle of the brands? That’s where things could get underhanded.

Hat tip to our Tennis Correspondent, Wendy G.