'A rod for his own back' - Ronnie O'Sullivan tells Neil Robertson to 'get used to' opponents upping their game

Updated 16/12/2022 at 19:41 GMT

“It’s a nice problem to have but I heard him say ‘everyone is playing great against me’, he’s got to get used to that but he’s playing well enough to put people in their place.” Ronnie O'Sullivan reacts to Neil Robertson's concerns that his opponents play better against him. Stream the 2022 English Open and more top snooker action live and on-demand on discovery+.

'He's got to get used to that' - O'Sullivan tells Robertson players will up their game against him

Ronnie O’Sullivan says Neil Robertson needs to get used to opponents upping their game when they face him but believes the Australian is playing well enough to deal with it.

Robertson is into the final four of the English Open but following his win over Mark Williams in a thrilling quarter-final, he expressed concern that he "brings the best out of his opponents".

“Seems to be that I’m bringing out the best of my opponent in every match I play,” said Roberston.

English Open

White and Bingham lose in English Open qualifying round

08/09/2023 at 22:05

“I like playing like that, it’s nice, but it’s a bit of a problem if people keep playing so well against me.”

O’Sullivan feels that Robertson’s gripes are purely down to fact he is playing so well that he becomes a target for opponents who can play more freely as they look to take him down.

“He’s created a rod for his own back,” O’Sullivan said in the Eurosport studio. “What happens is when someone plays so well, invariably it makes your opponent play well.

“He’s got this thing where everyone knows they’ve got to be at their best to beat him.”

Robertson raced into a 3-0 lead against Williams but saw his opponent battle back – even registering a 147 maximum break – before ultimately emerging with a 5-3 victory.

O’Sullivan believes this is something Robertson should not only get used to, but also welcome the challenge as he has the ability to cope.

“They come out and before they know it they’re 3-0 down and then they think ‘Right! Now, I’ve got to play well’ so they’ll start going for shots and playing with freedom but knowing they can’t play no-miss snooker," said O'Sullivan.

“He’s created that. It's a great position to be in because he’s dishing it out far more than he’s getting it back.

Robertson on 'problem of people playing so well against me' after Williams fightback

“[Stephen] Hendry was a bit like that, [Steve] Davis was a bit like that, John Higgins a bit like that. You think ‘you know what? I have to play lights out snooker to have a chance here’.

“It’s a nice problem to have but I heard him say ‘everyone is playing great against me’, he’s got to get used to that, but he’s playing well enough to put people in their place.”

- - -

Stream the 2022 English Open and more top snooker action live and on-demand on discovery+ and eurosport.co.uk

English Open