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AFP
AFP
Sport

Panic attack derails former champion Halep at French Open

Zheng Qinwen French Open Simona Halep China Paris
'Panic attack': Simona Halep on her way to defeat against China's Zheng Qinwen. ©AFP

Paris (AFP) - Former champion Simona Halep revealed she suffered a panic attack in her French Open defeat to China's Zheng Qinwen on Thursday.

The distressed 19th-seeded Romanian slumped in her chair at the end of the first set and required the attention of the doctor.

"It was just a panic attack.I didn't know how to handle it, because I don't have it often," said the 2018 French Open and 2019 Wimbledon winner.

"I was leading the match.I was playing well.I lost it.I couldn't focus. 

"After the match, it was pretty tough.But now I'm good.I'm recovered, and I will learn from this episode.Nothing dangerous.The doctors checked everything.Everything was perfect."

Zheng, just 19 and making her Paris debut, triumphed 2-6, 6-2, 6-1 and will face either 2017 champion Jelena Ostapenko or France's Alize Cornet for a place in the last 16.

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