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Simona Halep: I had a panic attack on court today

By TieBreakNewsPosted on
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Former world No. 1 Simona Halep revealed she had a panic attack during her French Open second round meeting versus Zheng Qinven.

Halep made a great start to the match as she was up by a set and a break before she shut down and lost the match in three sets.

“I played well at the beginning, had a break, then something happened and I lost the set. She (Zheng) played well,” Halep said, per Tennis Majors. “That was just a panic attack. It doesn’t happen that much. I couldn’t focus anymore. Now it’s behind me and I can smile again. I will learn from this episode. It was overthinking. I was leading. There was no reason. But it happened. I have to accept it. It happens to everybody.”

Halep exits the French Open

Halep made a strong start to the match, breaking Zheng in the opening game of the match.

Halep had a chance to open a double break lead but Zheng saved a break point in the third game to reduce the deficit to 1-2.

Halep maybe didn’t get her second break in the third game but she broke Zheng again in the seventh game to open a 5-2 lead.

In the eighth game, Halep served out for the first set.

After pretty easily winning the first set, Halep broke Zheng at the start of the second set and led 2-1 after the opening three games.

Up by a set and a break, Halep shut down as Zheng won the next eighth games.

Halep served out the fourth game of the third set to reduce the deficit to 1-3 but it didn’t change much.

Zheng won the following three games to complete a big comeback win.

For Halep, it was a disappointing end to her French Open campaign.

Halep recently hired Patrick Mouratoglou and she was hoping to potentially win her first Grand Slam since 2019.

Halep will now likely take some time for herself before she kicks off her preparation for the grass season.