Harriet Dart, the British tennis player, has revealed that the backlash from her controversial deodorant comment aimed at Lois Boisson has significantly impacted her mental state and performance on the court. The incident occurred during a first-round match at the Rouen Open in April, where Dart lost 6-0, 6-3 to Boisson. Dart had asked the umpire to tell Boisson to put on deodorant, stating, "She smells really bad."

The Aftermath of the Controversy

Dart later apologized on Instagram, calling it a "heat-of-the-moment comment that I truly regret." Despite her apology, the incident garnered widespread media attention and criticism. Boisson, on the other hand, took the incident in stride, posting an edited photo of herself holding deodorant and humorously suggesting a collaboration with Dove.

Diverging Paths

Since the incident, the trajectories of the two players have diverged significantly. Boisson made a major breakthrough at the French Open, reaching the semi-finals by defeating three seeded players. Dart, however, has struggled, winning just one of her past seven matches and slipping outside of the top 100 in the world rankings.

Preparing for Wimbledon

Dart, who has been given a wildcard entry into Wimbledon, will face Hungary's Dalma Galfi in the first round. Speaking to reporters at the All England Club, Dart admitted that the controversy has taken a toll on her. "I'd be lying if [I said] it didn't affect me a little bit," she said. "I'm human, but also we all make mistakes and I just tried to look forward."

Moving Forward

Dart emphasized her desire to put the incident behind her and focus on her upcoming matches. "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," she added. "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."

Boisson's Wimbledon Hopes

Meanwhile, Boisson, who reached the Roland Garros semi-finals in June, missed out on a discretionary place at Wimbledon and lost in the first round of qualifying to Canada's Carson Branstine. The contrasting fortunes of the two players highlight the unpredictable nature of professional tennis and the impact of off-court incidents on players' careers.

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