Halep was seen by a physical therapist in the third set for difficulty breathing. Photo REUTERS/Dylan Martinez
On a day with some surprises in the women’s field of Roland Garros, nothing caught as much attention as the fall of Simona Halep, former world number one and champion of the French Grand Slam in 2018. It was the Romanian, now ranked 19th step, seemed to have control over his second-round match against the Chinese qinwen zheng, 74th in the standings, but lost 2-6, 6-1, 6-1 in just hours of play. And soon, he admitted to the press that he suffered a panic attack in the match and re -emphasized the importance of mental health care for athletes and the huge pressure some players experience every time they come off the pitch. court.
“It was very hard. I played well in the beginning. I even broke in the second set, then something happened and I just lost the set and the match. But she was playing well and she deserved the win,” the Romanian commented. “It was just a panic attack. It doesn’t happen to me often.”
Halep completely left the match after the third game of the second chapter, when he stole his opponent’s serve to take a 2-1 lead. In the next game, the Chinese recovered the break, getting another in the sixth game, to reach 4-2 and another in the eighth, to seal the set.
“I played well at the beginning. Then something happened and I just lost,” Halep said. Photo REUTERS/Dylan Martinez
Against the unknown Halep, Zheng took a 4-1 lead in the third set. Then, the Romanian told the umpire that he was having difficulty breathing. He received medical attention and decided to continue the fight, but there was no way to overcome it.
“I didn’t expect I would have a panic attack. I don’t know how to deal with it. I don’t really know why that happened because I was in the lead in the game. I play well. There was no reason for that to happen, but I couldn’t concentrate. Perhaps this is an excessive thought. And I never recovered, I didn’t feel better. If I feel better, I start playing more, ”Halep said.
The former number one, 30, acknowledged that perhaps the unpleasant situation was due to his huge desire to be well in Paris, where he covered his first “big” four years ago (which he eventually won) of Wimbledon in 2019).
“There’s no reason for that to happen, but I can’t concentrate. Maybe over-think,” Halep said. Photo REUTERS/Dylan Martinez
The Romanian -one of the five seeded who lost yesterday along with Karolina Pliskova (8th), Danielle Collins (9th), Jelena Ostapenko (13th) and Ekaterina Alexandrova (30th)- He missed the final edition of the French Open because he was recovering from an injury to his left leg, which also weakened his confidence.
“I felt exhausted, I felt like I had no chance to be at the top. I didn’t have that fire and I didn’t trust that I will be able to play at the highest level again,” she said earlier this week . .
And he recognized that addition to his team of Patrick MouratoglouSerena Williams ’coach, with whom she has been working since April, has been key to regaining her motivation.
Halep admitted that perhaps the panic attack was due to his desire to be well in Paris. Photo REUTERS/Dylan Martinez
In good mood, he defeated the German in his debut Nastasja Schunk, lucky loser, by 6-4, 1-6 and 6-1. But before Zheng the old demons seemed to appear.
“This is part of the process. It happens to a lot of people. The moments after the match were quite hard. But now I’m fine. I’m recovered. I put it behind me and I can smile again,” reflected the Romanian. “I hope it doesn’t happen again. I just have to accept and face it. And learn from that experience.”
Source: Clarin
