By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Monday May 30, 2022
China’s Qinwen Zheng’s was enjoy the virtually perfect Roland-Garros debut, but she ran into issues during her contest with World No.1 Iga Swiatek and was unable to put her best forward as she lost 6-7(5), 6-0, 6-2 in fourth-round action on Court Philippe-Chatrier on Monday.
Zheng suffered from a thigh issue, but two other things contributed to her demise. First, the unyielding pressure from Swiatek, whos stretched her winning streak to 32 wins and came from a set down for the seventh this year.
Second, menstrual problems.
The 19-year-old Chinese was open about what was bothering her during the match as she talked to reporters afterwards.
“No, it's just girls, girls things, you know,” she said. “The first day is always so tough and then, you know, I have to do sport and I always have so much pain in 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 when I say, I really wish I can be man that I don't have to suffer from this. It's tough, yeah.”
Though she lost, it was a phenomenal tournament from Zheng nevertheless. In just her second Grand Slam main draw appearance she defeated former champion Simona Halep in the second-round for her first career Top-20 win.
In the third round she didn’t drop a game against France’s Alizé, before the Frenchwoman retired with an injury, down 6-0, 3-0.
She’s happy with her performance, except for what occurred on Tuesday.
“If I don't talk about today I'm happy with my performance all this run,” she said. “And to play against the No. 1 in the world, I feel really I enjoy on the court. If I don't have my stomach I think I could enjoy more, like to run better and to hit more harder, to give more effort on court. It's pity that I couldn't give that what I want to give today.
“I just want next time I play against her I have like perfect shape and go for next fight, yeah.”