French Open: Quarter-finalist Barbora Krejcikova ‘locked herself away, cried’

Barbora Krejcikova returns to Sloane Stephens yesterday. Pic/AFP

Barbora Krejcikova reached her first Grand Slam quarter-final at the French Open on Monday but only after locking herself in the physiotherapist's office, thinking she didn't want to play.

Krejcikova, ranked 33 in the world, defeated America's Sloane Stephens, the 2018 runner-up in Paris, 6-2, 6-0 to record a ninth successive win on the tour having arrived in Paris on the back of a maiden singles title in Strasbourg.

However, she admitted she was so stressed out by the day that she broke down in tears deep inside Court Suzanne Lenglen. "I woke up and I just felt really bad. I don't know why or what for and half an hour before the match, I didn't even want to step on the court," she said.

"I had to lock myself in the physio room and I had to talk to my psychologist - I was actually crying." She added: "She told me if you can overcome this, what you feel right now, it's going to be a huge win."

Also Read: French Open: Serena Williams shocked by Elena Rybakina in last 16

This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever