"I Wish I Was a Man": Menstrual Cramps Hamper Zheng Qinwen in French Open Last 16 Against Iga Swiatek

• Nature intervened at the worst moment for Chinese tennis sensation Zheng Qinwen in the French Open women's last 16 round
• She had to take on world number one Iga Swiatek while experiencing stomach cramps brought on by her menstrual cycle
• Qinwen dryly and forlornly joked that she wished that she was a man after missing out on the opportunity to cause a monumental upset

China's Zheng Qinwen said severe stomach cramps ruined her hopes of completing a shock French Open win against Poland's world number one Iga Swiatek on Monday.

The 19-year-old Zheng was playing in her first Roland Garros tournament and had her much more fancied opponent in a spot of bother. She won the first set 7-6, before fading away inexplicably 0-6 and 2-6 to the ruthless Swiatek.

According to IOL, it later emerged that she was dealing with the double trouble of an injured right leg while having to contend with stomach cramps brought on by her monthly cycle.

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She was unusually forthright about the whole thing, saying:

"It's just girl things. But that compared to the stomach was easy. 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. I could not play my tennis because my stomach was too painful. I wish I was a man."

Swiatek had nothing but praise for her opponent ranked 74th in the world, saying according to Fox Sports:

"Zheng played amazing tennis. 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.

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The world of tennis is in uproar after a video emerged of a teenage French tennis player smacking his Ghanaian opponent after an International Tennis Federation juniors tournament match in Ghana.

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As reported by Sports Brief, Michael Kouame, a 15-year-old, had just been defeated by hometown favourite Raphael Nii Ankrah 2-6, 7-6 and 6-7 in the first round of the tournament held in the capital Accra when the incident occurred.

Kouame waited for the 16-year-old Ankrah to approach him at the net for the customary handshake, before slapping him with his left hand as the latter reached out.