French Open: Simona Halep suffers a panic attack on the pitch

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Simona Halep in her second round match against Zheng Qinwen

Photo: DYLAN MARTINEZ / REUTERS

Former world number one Simona Halep has reported a panic attack after her second round defeat at the French Open.

"Something happened" in the second set, said the 30-year-old Romanian tennis player after the 6: 2, 2: 6, 1: 6 against the Chinese Zheng Qinwen.

You experienced a panic attack.

“I didn't know how to deal with it because it was something new for me.

I led, I played well.« In the third set she had asked for medical help.

Halep reported that she may have put too much pressure on herself.

"I had been training hard, I just wanted to play well and maybe I was panicking just thinking about it."

The doctors had certified that she was physically okay.

“It was pretty tough after the match.

But now I'm fine.

I've recovered and will learn from this episode," Halep said.

"It happened.

I have to accept it.

It's something normal that everyone has."

She had won the French Open in 2018 and a year later also triumphed in Wimbledon.

She is now 19th in the world rankings.

The mental health of elite athletes has received more public attention in the past year, as sports stars like tennis player Naomi Osaka and gymnast Simone Biles have spoken openly about their problems.

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