Menstrual cramps derail Chinese teen's French Open dream in loss to Swiatek
Story by Reuters
Updated 0709 GMT (1509 HKT) May 31, 2022
Zheng Qinwen of China is attended to during her match against Iga Swiatek of Poland at the French Open on May 30.(CNN)Chinese teenager Zheng Qinwen suffered with menstrual cramps as she lost to Poland's Iga Swiatek in the French Open fourth round on Monday after taking a set off the world's number one tennis player.
Zheng, 19, looked on track for a major upset when she claimed the opener in a tiebreak before Swiatek took control to win 6-7(5) 6-0 6-2 for her 32nd straight victory. Zheng said she had no pain during the opening set but took a medical time out at 3-0 down in the second, having her back massaged on court before going to the locker room and returning with her right thigh strapped.«Yeah, the leg was also tough. That compared to the stomach was easy...I cannot play my tennis, (my) stomach was too painful,» Zheng, ranked 74 in the world, told reporters.«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 in the first day. And I couldn't go against my nature.Simona Halep says she experienced a panic attack during her French Open defeatRead More»I wish I can be a man on court, but I cannot in that moment...I really wish I can be (a) man (so) that I don't have to suffer from this."Zheng, who made her Grand Slam debut at the Australian Open this year, said she had tried her best to compete but was happy she had progressed to the second week.«If I don't talk about today, I'm happy with my performance (on) this run. And to play against the number one in the world, I felt I really enjoyed (it) on the court,» she added.«If I don't have my stomach (pain) I think I could enjoy more, like to
