They say talking to yourself is the first sign of madness but it's clearly working for Novak Djokovic.
The Serb maintained his bid for a record-equalling 24th Grand Slam title but had to battle back from two sets down to beat compatriot Laslo Djere.
The three-time US Open champion recovered from dropping the first two sets 4-6 4-6 to break his opponent’s serve in the first game of the third, and that gave him the platform to clean up 6-1 6-1 6-3 to progress to the fourth round in five sets.
It was the eighth time in his career that Djokovic, who is aiming to match Australian Margaret Court’s tally of major wins, had successfully recovered from 2-0 down.
He took a break after losing the second set for some self motivation. He said: “I did a pep talk in the mirror. It worked.
“I laughed at myself because I was so agitated and annoyed with the game. I had to force myself to lift my spirits.”
Djokovic will next play Croatian qualifier Borna Gojo, the world number 105.
Elsewhere, Caroline Wozniacki’s fairytale run continued as she came from behind to beat American Jennifer Brady.
The 33-year-old Dane, who retired more than three years ago and has had two children, won 4-6 6-3 6-1 and is through to the second week in only her third event since returning to the tour.
“As a competitor and an athlete you always want to win and you have to believe in yourself, but playing here on Arthur Ashe again is a dream come true,” she said.
“When I retired three years ago and having had two kids, I thought I’d just be here watching. What an honour this is.”
Wozniacki will play another American next in Coco Gauff.
The in-form Gauff, coming off titles in Washington and Cincinnati, also had to dig deep to withstand Belgium's Elise Mertens as the 19-year-old American fought her way to a 3-6, 6-3, 6-0 victory.
"A win is a win, it doesn't matter how you get it done," said Gauff. "If anything the three-setters show everybody else I'm not going down without a fight."
WHAT FANS WILL LOVE ABOUT RUSSIA
FANS WILL LOVE
Uber is ridiculously cheap and, as Diego Saez discovered, mush safer. A 45-minute taxi from Pulova airport to Saint Petersburg’s Nevsky Prospect can cost as little as 500 roubles (Dh30).
FANS WILL LOATHE
Uber policy in Russia is that they can start the fare as soon as they arrive at the pick-up point — and oftentimes they start it even before arriving, or worse never arrive yet charge you anyway.
FANS WILL LOVE
It’s amazing how active Russians are on social media and your accounts will surge should you post while in the country. Throw in a few Cyrillic hashtags and watch your account numbers rocket.
FANS WILL LOATHE
With cold soups, bland dumplings and dried fish, Russian cuisine is not to everybody’s tastebuds. Fortunately, there are plenty Georgian restaurants to choose from, which are both excellent and economical.
FANS WILL LOVE
The World Cup will take place during St Petersburg's White Nights Festival, which means perpetual daylight in a city that genuinely never sleeps. (Think toddlers walking the streets with their grandmothers at 4am.)
FANS WILL LOATHE
The walk from Krestovsky Ostrov metro station to Saint Petersburg Arena on a rainy day makes you wonder why some of the $1.7 billion was not spent on a weather-protected walkway.
Dirham Stretcher tips for having a baby in the UAE
Selma Abdelhamid, the group's moderator, offers her guide to guide the cost of having a young family:
• Buy second hand stuff
They grow so fast. Don't get a second hand car seat though, unless you 100 per cent know it's not expired and hasn't been in an accident.
• Get a health card and vaccinate your child for free at government health centres
Ms Ma says she discovered this after spending thousands on vaccinations at private clinics.
• Join mum and baby coffee mornings provided by clinics, babysitting companies or nurseries.
Before joining baby classes ask for a free trial session. This way you will know if it's for you or not. You'll be surprised how great some classes are and how bad others are.
• Once baby is ready for solids, cook at home
Take the food with you in reusable pouches or jars. You'll save a fortune and you'll know exactly what you're feeding your child.
The biog
Family: He is the youngest of five brothers, of whom two are dentists.
Celebrities he worked on: Fabio Canavaro, Lojain Omran, RedOne, Saber Al Rabai.
Where he works: Liberty Dental Clinic
