(CNN)Two-time Grand Slam champion Simona Halep said she experienced a panic attack on the court while losing to Qinwen Zheng in the second round of the French Open.
Halep, who won her first major title at Roland Garros in 2018, seemed in control of the game on Thursday as she won the first set and broke early in the second.
But teenager Zheng bounced back to win the second set and take an early lead in the third.
Halep, who appeared to be struggling with her breathing, challenged the coach twice in the final set as she lost 6-2 2-6 1-6.
“A little panic attack, let’s say,” she said Eurosport when asked what had happened. “It’s new and I didn’t know how to deal with it. It was difficult to breathe and I wasn’t quite sure what I was doing. It was a very difficult moment.”
Ahead of the French Open, Halep told CNN she was close to retiring from tennis last year as she recovered from a calf injury and struggled with the ongoing effects of the Covid-19 pandemic.
She said partnering with manager Patrick Mouratoglou earlier this year “brought that fire back”, but admitted after Thursday’s defeat that the lingering effects of the past two years are still taking their toll.
“I can understand why it (the panic attack) happened because I’ve had a tough two years with injuries and a lot of pressure from the pandemic and stuff,” she said.
“I probably just broke down a bit today. My brain wasn’t very strong. But I’m fine now and that’s why I’m smiling.”
Writing on Instagram, Mouratoglou admitted after the game that as Halep’s coach he “isn’t doing a good enough job” and “expected much better from me”.
Halep replied that she was “ready for more”.
The former world No. 1 has been praised for speaking openly about the panic attack. Eurosport commentator and former player Tim Henman said it was “so brave and so honest” of her to speak out about what happened.
“She’s been around for many years, she’s won big titles and it just goes to show that it can happen to anyone,” Henman said.
Zheng will play in the third round of a Grand Slam for the first time in her career when she takes on Alizé Cornet on Saturday.
The world No. 74 could then face Iga Swiatek in the fourth round, the 2020 French Open champion who has 30 straight wins behind her.
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