- A Chinese tennis player said she played poorly in the French Open due to menstrual cramps.
- Zheng Qinwen lost, and said afterwards "I cannot play my tennis, [my] stomach was too painful."
- She said "I wish I can be a man on court, but I cannot in that moment."
A Chinese tennis player who lost a match in the French Open said she was dealing with menstrual cramps, and that she wished she could be a man when she plays.
Zheng Qinwen, 19, won the first set of her match on Monday, but ultimately lost to Iga Swiatek. She took medical time out during the game and came back with her leg strapped.
She told reporters after the game, according to CNN: "Yeah, the leg was also tough. That compared to the stomach was easy…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 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…I really wish I can be [a] man [so] that I don't have to suffer from this."
The loss means Zheng is out of the competition. Swiatek advanced to the quarterfinals and is due to face US player Jessica Pegula on Wednesday