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A former French Open winner suffered a mid-match panic attack as she crashed out in the second round

Simona Halep of Romania talks to the trainer during a medical interruption while playing Qinwen Zheng of China in her second round match on Day 5 at Roland Garros
Simona Halep was knocked out of the French Open by Zheng Qinwen on Thursday. Getty/Robert Prange

  • Simona Halep had a panic attack as she lost in the second round of the French Open on Thursday.
  • Play was halted in the second set for a medical timeout.
  • "I have to be a little bit more relaxed," said the former champion. "I really wanted to do well."
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The former French Open champion Simona Halep suffered a mid-match panic attack as she was knocked out of this year's tournament in the second round by China's Zheng Qinwen on Thursday.

The Romanian was leading the match comfortably when a medical timeout was called in the second set.

Though she continued playing, Halep went on to lose 2-6, 6-2, 6-1 to her teenage opponent.

"It was just a panic attack," Halep told reporters after the match. "I didn't know how to handle it, because I don't have it often.

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"I don't really know why it happened, because I was leading the match. I was playing well. But it just happened, and 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. It was nothing dangerous, in my opinion, but it happened. So it's good that now I can smile."

Asked why she thinks it happened, the two-time Grand Slam winner and former world No. 1 said that she "probably" put too much pressure on herself.

"It's just a tennis match so I have to be a little bit more relaxed," she said. "I really wanted to do well."

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The former British No. 1 Tim Henman, who is now a pundit for Eurosport, lauded Halep for her honesty.

"I think it is so brave and so honest for Simona to come in and talk about what happened to her, because I feel that can really have a positive impact on others that if they are struggling with a mental health issue that they have the bravery to speak about it and go and get help," he said. 

"Simona has been around for many years. She has won big titles, so it just goes to show that it can happen to anyone."

Zheng, 19, takes on France's Alizé Cornet in the third round on Saturday. 

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