“Wish I could be a man,” said China’s Zheng Qinwen as his stomach hurt at the end of France’s open tender.

China’s Zheng Qinwen said severe stomach pain ruined her hopes of completing her shock win at the French Open over world number one Iga Swiatek on Monday and made her wish “I can become man”. Zheng, just 19 years old and playing at her first Roland Garros, beat the top seed in the first set before falling 6-7 (5/7), 6-0, 6-2 in a draw of 16 nearest. The world No. 74 had to take a break to soon bind her injured right leg in the second set, but she revealed that was what she was least concerned about.

“It’s just girl stuff,” Zheng said as she suffered from menstrual cramps.

“The first day is always very difficult and then I have to exercise and I always have pain the first day.

“I can’t go against my nature. I wish I could be a man so I wouldn’t have to endure this. It’s tough.”

In the 82-minute opening set, Zheng saved 5 set points, got 2 sets of his own and then came back from 2/5 down in a tiebreak to stun the top seed.

It was the first set that Swiatek had lost since April 23, when she was stretched by Liudmila Samsonova in the semifinals in Stuttgart.

When the 2020 Roland Garros championship title was in jeopardy, Zheng had to retire with a score of 0-3 in the second set because of a leg injury.

Zheng, who beat 2018 champion Simona Halep on her way to the fourth round, returned with a tight right thigh and quickly dropped the second set.

Swiatek produced a double break in the decisive set against her weary opponent, whose physical problems contributed to her 46 irresistible errors.

Zheng added: “The leg makes it difficult. “But it’s easy compared to my stomach. I can’t play tennis because my stomach hurts too much.

“I really try my best on the pitch, it’s just difficult.”

Swiatek extended his winning streak to 32 games to equal the third-best winning streak of this century set by Justine Henin 14 years ago.

“Zheng plays great tennis” after reaching the quarterfinals for the third year in a row, said Swiatek.

“I’ve been amazed with some of her shots, her top spin is amazing. Congratulations to her. I’m so happy to be back from a disappointing first set with the lead.

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“I’m proud to still be in the tournament.”

Swiatek will face 11th seed American Jessica Pegula for a place in the semifinals.