After her panic attack in the second round match at the French Open, former world number one Simona Halep gave the all-clear.

"Now that I know what it's like to have a panic attack, it's not easy to deal with, but I got through it and I can smile again," the 30-year-old Romanian wrote on Instagram.

Halep suddenly complained of acute breathing problems in her game against Zheng Qinwen from China in the second set on Thursday.

Although she was able to continue playing after a break in treatment, she lost the match and was eliminated.

In the first round, Halep won in three sets against the young German hopeful Nastasja Schunk.

Halep has now acknowledged that a year and a half ago she was close to retiring from tennis.

"The past 18 months have been tough, emotionally and physically," wrote Halep, who has been set back by injuries.

In the meantime, however, she has rediscovered the joy of sport.

"It's not my style to give up.

Tomorrow is a new day and I'm ready to start again," wrote the two-time Grand Slam tournament winner.