After her round of 16 exit at the French Open, the Chinese tennis player Zheng Qinwen addressed an important topic that has so far received little attention in the sports world.
The 19-year-old said after her three-set defeat against the Polish world number one Iga Swiatek that she was unable to show her best performance because of menstrual problems.
“The first day is always so hard. And then I have to do sports, even though I’m always in so much pain on the first day”said Zheng Qinwen. “My stomach hurt so bad I couldn’t even yell out ‘come on'”reported Zheng Qinwen. “It was girl stuff. I can’t go against my nature. I wish I was a man on the court and didn’t have to go through this. It was hard”said the world number 74, who played big in Paris and was also struggling with thigh problems. “Compared to the stomach, however, it was less of a problem.”
Mentally up
Meanwhile, Swiatek’s run of success is being extended. The 20-year-old, who won her only Grand Slam title to date in Roland Garros in 2020, celebrated her 32nd individual victory en suite with the 6: 7 (5), 6: 0, 6: 2. The 33rd is to follow today in the quarterfinals. Swiatek, who won 48 of her last 50 sets, is the clear favorite against American Jessica Pegula, seeded number eleven.
“I have the best job in the world”, stresses the series winner, who doesn’t lose her nerve even in critical situations. This is thanks to psychologist Daria Abramovicz. The former sailor has brought Swiatek back on track mentally after things got overwhelming after her first Major triumph two years ago. “It was a very hectic time, this success has changed my life – especially at home. In Poland you can recognize me on the street”said Swiatek.
The Italian Martina Trevisan is not that popular yet, but she is on a remarkable way. The 28-year-old drew as world number 59. sensationally in the French Open semifinals. Yesterday she defeated Leylah Fernandez, who advanced to the US Open final in 2021, 6-2, 6-7(3), 6-3. “It’s incredible, the journey continues”, says Trevisan, who has to deal with Coco Gauff in the round of the last four. The 18-year-old American won her first WTA title at the Upper Austria Ladies in Linz in 2019.
Will Rodionov return to Mauthausen?
Almost a month after his victory in the ATP Challenger, Jurij Rodionov could return to Mauthausen on Sunday. From 11 a.m., Union Stein & Co Mauthausen will welcome Rodionov’s Wiener Athletik Club at the end of the basic tennis league round. However, it is questionable whether Austria’s new number one will actually be there in the Mühlviertel. The 23-year-old lost 6-2, 6-1 to Olympic champion Andy Murray yesterday in Surbiton, a suburb of London. However, Rodionov has also named for the tournament in Stuttgart starting at the weekend. Already on Friday (1 p.m.) Mauthausen meets Schwaz, which in turn welcomes the UTC Casa Moda Steyr on Sunday. The Linz women are guests in Wörgl on Friday, Ried plays against Kufstein.
Source: Nachrichten
