Two-time grand slam champ is knocked out of the French Open when struck by a panic attack
The Romanian tennis star losses in three sets to 19-year-old Chinese player Qinwen Zheng.
Halep looked comfortable as she cruised through the first set and was up a break in the second.
But Zheng quickly recovered to win the second set and began to dictate the match in the third.
The 2018 French Open champion suddenly called the trainer and asked to have her pulse and blood pressure taken.
After receiving an all clear the 30-year-old continued with the match but looked very uneasy against the Chinese youngster.
She was struggling for breath and had to call for doctors a second time in the third set.
The 19-year-old went on to win the match 2-6, 6-2, 6-1 and advanced into the third round of the championship.
Halep left the court immediately with medical staff before returning to address the media.
She then admitted to having a panic attack during the match which she couldn’t control.
“I didn’t expect [that] because it was just a panic attack,” says Halep.
“I didn’t know how to handle it, because I don’t have it often.”
“I don’t really know why it happened, because I was leading the match. I was playing well. But it just happened. I couldn’t focus.”
Halep is the latest big name to roll out of Roland Garros, with American Danielle Collins also losing on Friday.
This comes as seven top-ten female seeds have now been knocked out of the tournament ahead of round-three.
Danaya Malenda contributed to this report.
