After taking a set off the world number one women's tennis player, Chinese teenager Zheng Qinwen say she was suffering with menstrual cramps when she lost to Poland's Iga Świątek in the French Open fourth round on Monday.

Zheng, 19, looked on track for a major upset when she claimed the opener in a tie-break before Świątek took control to win 6-7(5), 6-0, 6-2 for her 32nd straight victory.

While Zheng said she had no pain during the opening set, she took a medical time out at 3-0 down in the second, having her back massaged on court before going to the locker room and returning with her right thigh strapped.

"Yeah, the leg was also tough. That compared to the stomach was easy … I cannot play my tennis, (my) stomach was too painful," Zheng, now ranked 55th in the WTA rankings, told reporters afterwards.

"It's just girls' things, you know. The first day is always so tough, and then I have to do sport and I always have so much pain in the first day. And I couldn't go against my nature.

"I wish I can be a man on court, but I cannot in that moment … I really wish I can be (a) man (so) that I don't have to suffer from this."

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Zheng — who made her grand slam debut at the Australian Open this year — said she had tried her best to compete but was happy she had progressed to the second week.

The Chinese star defeated both Simona Halep and Alize Cornet on her way to the fourth-round clash against Świątek.

"If I don't talk about today, I'm happy with my performance (on) this run. And to play against the number one in the world, I felt I really enjoyed (it) on the court," she added.

"If I don't have my stomach [pain], I think I could enjoy more, like to run better and to hit harder, to give more effort on court. It's a pity that I couldn't give what I wanted to give today.

"I just want [it so that] next time I play against her, I [am in] perfect shape."

Świątek's victory means she now equals the record held by Justine Henin for most consecutive wins on the WTP circuit, with only Venus and Serena Williams tallying more wins in a row since 2000. In the quarterfinals, Świątek will play 11th-seed Jessica Pegula.

Reuters