Novak Djokovic of Serbia celebrates after winning the men's singles quarter-final match against Jannik Sinner of Italy at Wimbledon Tennis Championship in London, Britain, on July 5, 2022. (Xinhua/Li Ying)
Defending champion Novak Djokovic came back from two sets down to reach the semifinals at the Wimbledon Championships.
LONDON, July 5 (Xinhua) -- Defending champion Novak Djokovic fought back from two sets down to beat Italian Jannik Sinner in the men's singles quarterfinals at the Wimbledon Championships on Tuesday.
Meanwhile, Britain's No. 9 seed Cameron Norrie as well as women's singles players Tatjana Maria and Ons Jabeur all came from behind to reach the semifinals at the grass-court Grand Slam.
Djokovic, 35, is aiming at his seventh Wimbledon trophy and fourth consecutive victory at All England Club. But the Serbian top seed was outclassed at the beginning by a sensational Sinner, who took the opening two sets 7-5 and 6-2.
Novak Djokovic (R) of Serbia helps Jannik Sinner of Italy stand up after Sinner slipped during their men's singles quarter-final match at Wimbledon Tennis Championship in London, Britain, on July 5, 2022. (Xinhua/Li Ying)
However, Djokovic raised his level from the third set and gave 20-year-old Sinner few chances before winning the match 5-7, 2-6, 6-3, 6-2 and 6-2.
"It was just a pep talk, positive talk," Djokovic explained his toilet break after the second set. "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, you know, find the right and positive affirmations and tell it to yourself and kind of reanimate yourself in a way."
"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-of-five, so I had the opportunity to come back," he added.
Cameron Norrie of Britain hits a return during the men's singles quarter-final match against David Goffin of Belgium at Wimbledon Tennis Championship in London, Britain, on July 5, 2022. (Xinhua/Han Yan)
Djokovic's semifinal opponent Norrie also played five sets in his first Grand Slam quarterfinal on Tuesday.
Facing Belgian veteran David Goffin, 26-year-old Norrie came back twice to level at 2-2 before outplaying the experienced Goffin 7-5 in the deciding set, winning 3-6, 7-5, 2-6, 6-3, 7-5.
The 34-year-old mom-of-two, Maria beat her German compatriot Jule Niemeier 4-6, 6-2 and 7-5 to reach the semifinals.
"One year ago, I gave birth to my second daughter. If somebody would tell me one year later you are in a semifinal of Wimbledon, that's crazy," said Maria who progressed to her first Grand Slam semifinal.
Tatjana Maria of Germany celebrates during the women's singles quarter-final match against her compatriot Jule Niemeier at Wimbledon Tennis Championship in London, Britain, on July 5, 2022. (Xinhua/Han Yan)
The third seed Jabeur of Tunisia lost her first set at this year's Wimbledon to unseeded Czech player Marie Bouzkova, but managed to turn the table 3-6, 6-1 and 6-1.
