‘I wish I was was a man’, say Zheng Qinwen as her French Open title fades away

Zheng Qinwen of China said bad stomach aches hindered her chances of winning the French Open on Monday against world number one Iga Swiatek and made her “wishing I was a man.”

Zheng, who is only 19 years old and is competing in her debut Roland Garros, dominated the first set against the top seed before losing 6-7 (5/7), 6-0, 6-2 in their last-16 match.

Read more: Martina appreciates Swiatek for handling pressure elegantly

Early in the second set, world number 74 needed a medical break to strap her injured right leg, but she stated that was the least of her worries.

“It’s just girl things,” Zheng said in reference to her menstrual pain.

“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.

“I couldn’t go against my nature. I wish I can be a man so that I don’t have to suffer from this. It’s tough.”

Zheng saved five set points, had two of her own, and then fought her way back from 2/5 from the bottom in the tiebreak to stun the top seed in an 82-minute first set.

Swiatek had not dropped a set since April 23, when she was pushed by Liudmila Samsonova in the Stuttgart semi-finals.

Read more: Sizzling Swiatek cements number one spot ahead of French Open

Zheng needed a medical break at 0-3 in the second set amid a leg ailment, putting her Roland Garros crown in jeopardy.

Zheng, who had advanced to the fourth round by thrashing 2018 champion Simona Halep, returned with her right thigh severely strapped and dropped the second set quickly.

Swiatek won the deciding set with a double break against a weary opponent who had 46 unforced errors due to her physical troubles.

“The leg made it tough,” added Zheng. “But that compared to the stomach was easy. I cannot play my tennis because the stomach was too much painful.

“I really give my best on court, it’s just tough.”

Swiatek extended her winning streak to 32 matches, tying Justine Henin’s 14-year-old record for the best winning streak in the century.

“Zheng played amazing tennis,” said Swiatek after reaching the quarter-finals for a third successive year.

“I was surprised with some of her shots, her top spin was amazing. Huge congrats to her. I am happy to come back after a frustrating first set when I had the lead.

“I am proud to be still in the tournament.”

Swiatek will play Jessica Pegula, the 11th seed from the United States, in the semi-finals.

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