Since losing 6-0 6-3 to Boisson, Dart has won just one of her past seven matches and slipped outside of the top 100 Harriet Dart says the negative reaction she received for aiming a personal jibe at opponent Lois Boisson has taken a toll on her. During a 6-0 6-3 first-round defeat to Boisson at the Rouen Open in April, Dart asked the umpireto tell her opponent to put on deodorant, saying: "She smells really bad." The 28-year-old from West Hampsteadlater apologised on Instagram,calling it a "heat-of-the-moment comment that I truly regret". Boisson made light of the incident at the time, posting an edited photo of her holding some deodorant and telling toiletries company Dove that they "apparently need a collab". Their careers have since gone in significantly directions, with Boisson making a major Grand Slam breakthrough at the French Open and Dart winning just one of seven matches. Dart, who will face Hungary's Dalma Galfi in the first round of Wimbledon on Monday, was asked about the comment by reporters at the All England Club on Saturday. "I'd be lying if [I said] it didn't affect me a little bit," said the British number four, who sits 124th in the world rankings. "I'm human, but also we all make mistakes and I just tried to look forward. "I've gone through some difficulties these weeks. I don't always share what I go through but I'm just looking forward and preparing the best I can. "I don't know why we're still talking about this. It's been months now. I feel like I answered a lot of the questions that were asked of me and that's it. I really just want to put it behind me." Dart has been given a wildcard entry into Wimbledon - unlike Boisson, who reached the Roland Garros semi-finals in June by beating three seeded players. After she missed out on a discretionary place, world number 65 Boissonlost in the first round of Wimbledon qualifyingto Canada's Carson Branstine on Tuesday.
Deodorant comment controversy affected me - GB's Dart
TruthLens AI Suggested Headline:
"Harriet Dart Discusses Impact of Controversial Comment on Her Career"
Bbc News
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TruthLens AI Summary
Harriet Dart, the British tennis player, has expressed that the backlash she faced following a controversial comment about her opponent Lois Boisson has significantly impacted her mental state and performance on the court. During a first-round match at the Rouen Open in April, Dart made a remark to the umpire suggesting that Boisson needed to apply deodorant, citing that she 'smells really bad.' This comment, which Dart later described as a 'heat-of-the-moment' remark, led to a public apology on Instagram. While Boisson responded with humor by posting a light-hearted image related to the incident, the fallout seems to have affected Dart more deeply. Since that match, her performance has dwindled, with Dart winning only one of her last seven matches and falling outside of the top 100 in the world rankings.
As Dart prepares for her upcoming match against Hungary's Dalma Galfi at Wimbledon, she reflected on the ongoing discussions surrounding her comment, noting that it has been months since the incident yet it continues to resurface. Dart admitted that the negative attention has taken a toll on her, stating, 'I'd be lying if [I said] it didn't affect me a little bit.' Despite the challenges she has faced, Dart emphasized her desire to move forward and focus on her training. She expressed frustration over the continued focus on her past remarks, indicating that she has addressed the issue multiple times already. Meanwhile, Boisson has seen her career trajectory rise, recently reaching the semi-finals at the French Open, which contrasts sharply with Dart's struggles. As Dart heads into Wimbledon as a wildcard entry, she hopes to regain her footing and put this chapter behind her.
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