British No 1 Cameron Norrie gave an honest assessment after suffering a major scare at the Australian Open.
The 28-year-old was forced to come back from two sets down to beat Italian qualifier Giulio Zeppieri in the second round in Melbourne.
Norrie won his first game of the tournament on Tuesday, beating Juan Pablo Varillas in straight sets.
But it proved to be a much tougher task against 22-year-old Zeppieri.
Cameron Norrie came from two sets down to beat Giulio Zeppieri
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Zeppieri was appearing at the Australian Open for the first time in his career.
He produced an upset against Dusan Lajovic in the first round and almost pulled off another against Norrie.
Zeppieri took the first set 6-3 and took the second to a tie-break, which he eventually won 7-4.
A rain break then disrupted the qualifier's momentum and allowed Norrie to gather himself.
The Brit had to respond and broke in the first game of the third set.
His quality then took over and he quickly reduced the deficit to one.
Zeppieri wasn't going to make it easy for his opponent though and made him work for the next two sets.
But Norrie won them both 6-4 to clinch a huge comeback win.
Norrie was brutally honest with his post-match verdict and was complimentary of Zeppieri.
He told Eurosport: "I was making excuses to myself, I was mentally terrible.
"But he took the racquet out my hands in the first hour and a half, and I couldn't play.
"Then a couple of rain delays and I somehow lifted and won the third set.
"And then when I came out for the fourth set, the crowd were amazing and I thought I was going to win the match – I knew it.
"I had this feeling and I managed to play solid enough. But he was a great player, credit to him, he made it really difficult."
Norrie admits the rain breaks helped him get back into the match.
He says he was 'b******g' too much in the first two sets.
Norrie added: "Yeah definitely [the rain breaks helped].
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Giulio Zeppieri gave Cameron Norrie a huge test in Melbourne
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"I was just b******g and whining too much.
"I just needed to stop making excuses and play but it was so difficult.
"He was hitting so many winners, serving great.
"There was nothing happening in the match and it was tough for me.
"So I was able to lift my energy somehow and break in the first game of the third set and turn it round.
"But it was a massive mental performance from me. I wasn't looking good at the beginning."
Norrie has set up a third-round match against Norway's Casper Ruud.
Cameron Norrie was delighted to get over the line in the second round
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Ruud came through a five-set thriller of his own against Australia's Max Purcell.
Norrie has been struggling with a wrist injury leading up to the tournament.
But he is hopeful he will be fine, with a couple of days rest before he is next in action.
Norrie said: "Yeah let's see how it pulls up tomorrow.
"I was just really pleased to not really think about it too much and just try to play and stay in the moment.
"Luckily the crowd made it really easy for me to do that with the atmosphere and it was so good. Hopefully that can continue."
