French Open: Zheng Qinwen wishes she was 'a man' after menstrual cramps

Tennis star Zheng Qinwen blamed her fourth-round defeat to Iga Swiatek at the French Open on menstrual problems and claimed she wished she could be “a man on court.” 

Zheng won the first set against world number one Swiatek and looked to be on track to pull off a sensational upset, but eventually succumbed to defeat 7-6 0-6 2-6. 

Speaking after the match, Zheng said: “It’s just girls’ things, you know. The first day is always so tough and then I have to do sport and I always have so much pain on the first day. 

“And I couldn’t go against my nature. I wish I can be a man on court, but I cannot in that moment. I really wish I can be [a] man that doesn’t have to suffer from this. It’s tough.”

After winning a first set tie break, Zheng was forced to leave the court for a medical time out. When she returned, the Pole dominated proceedings and reeled off 12 of the next 14 games to book her spot in the last eight.