DJOKER’S PEP TALK DOES JOB

Man in the mirror in epic comeback

NOVAK Djokovic has revealed a mid-game pep talk snapped him out of his struggles and sparked his dramatic comeback win to remain alive in Wimbledon.

Djokovic survived a huge fright in his quarter-final match, losing the first two sets to Italian Jannik Sinner before storming home to win 5-7 2-6 6-3 6-2 6-2.

Although he looked calm, Djokovic revealed he was so worried he was going to lose that he stared at himself in the mirror during a toilet break after the second set.

“There was no aggressivity there. It was just a pep talk, positive talk,” he said.

“As negative and down you feel on yourself in those moments, even though as fake as it looks or sounds to you, it really gives you an effect and support if you are trying to find the right and positive affirmations and tell it to yourself and kind of reanimate yourself in a way.

“Today it worked. It doesn’t always work. It’s not a guarantee it will always work but I just felt like I had to change something.

“I was not playing well, I was not feeling well on the court, I was dominated by Sinner. Thankfully grand slams are played in best-offive, so I had the opportunity to come back.”

Sinner, 20, is one of the best young prospects in the men’s game, already making the quarter-finals of the three grand slams.

He said he wasn’t surprised when Djokovic raised his game and the experience would put him in good stead for next time.

“It’s best-offive. When you are up two sets to love, you play every set in the best possible way,” he said.

“I know that I have still a lot to improve, but I think I can be happy after this Wimbledon.

“It’s tennis. I knew that he’s one of the best players of all time. Let’s see in the future how it goes.”

Djokovic has a surprise opponent awaiting him in the semis, South African-born, New Zealand-raised Brit Cameron Norrie.

A South Sydney Rabbitohs fan, Norrie came back from the brink of defeat to beat Belgian David Goffin 3-6

7-5 2-6 6-3 7-5.

Djokovic will start as the overwhelming favourite to beat Norrie if their only previous meeting is an indication.

That was last year at the ATP World Tour Finals in Italy where Djokovic dominated 6-2 6-1.

“That was different conditions, different tournament, environment than what it would be playing here in Wimbledon on Centre Court semi-finals of a slam in his country,” Djokovic said.

“I know what to expect in terms of the crowd support. For him (he has) not much to lose. Every victory from now onwards is a big deal for him.

“I have practised (with Norrie a few times. I know his game well.”