Zheng Qinwen’s dream to continue at French Open came to an end as the Chinese teenager lost to Poland’s Iga Swiatek in the fourth round of the French Open on Monday due to menstruation cramps. In her debut Roland Garros match, she won the first round against the top seed before succumbing 6-7 (5/7), 6-0, 6-2 in the last-16 tie. Her menstrual cramps worsened to the point that she had to seek medical care.
“Yeah, the leg was also tough. That compared to the stomach was easy. (https://editorialrm.com) I cannot play my tennis, (my) stomach was too painful. 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,” Zheng said.
I couldn’t give what I want to give today: Zheng Qinwen
Explaining more about her experience, she said, “I wish I can be a man on the court, but I cannot at that moment. I really wish I can be (a) man (so) that I don’t have to suffer from this. 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.
Furthermore, she continued, ” if I don’t have my stomach (pain) I think I could enjoy more, like to run better and to hit harder, to give more effort on the court. It’s a pity that I couldn’t give what I want to give today. I just want (it so that) next time I play against her, I (am in) perfect shape.”
Zheng Qinwen preserved five set points, had two of her own, and then battled out from 2/5 out in the tiebreak to shock the top player in an 82-minute first set. Swiatek won the decider round with a double break against a tiring rival who had 46 unforced errors due to her physical troubles. She increased her winning streak to 32 matches, tying with Justine Henin’s 14-year-old record for the longest winning streak in the century. Swiatek will play Jessica Pegula, the 11th seed from the United States, in the semi-finals.
