'I like winners' - Ronnie O'Sullivan puts Novak Djokovic, Roger Federer and Tiger Woods on his greatest list
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Updated 17/10/2022 at 07:35 GMT
Lukas Kleckers was no match for Ronnie O'Sullivan in the first round of the Northern Ireland Open at the Waterfront Hall in Belfast. Following the win, O'Sullivan joined Alan McManus and Rachel Casey in the Eurosport studio and touched on a range of topics. He was asked for his views on his favourite sports stars, and picked greats from tennis, golf, F1 and boxing.
'I like winners' - O'Sullivan includes Federer among top sportsmen of all time
Ronnie O’Sullivan has revealed his top sports stars of all time, after former footballer Jamie Carragher namechecked the snooker great on his list.
Former England international Carragher put O’Sullivan in his top three greatest sports people of all time, alongside multiple Olympic champion athlete Usain Bolt and unbeaten boxing great Floyd Mayweather.
O’Sullivan admitted to being flattered by Carragher’s comments, but moved to clarify what the Liverpool legend said.
“I have to clarify what he said,” O’Sullivan said in the Eurosport studio following his win over Lukas Kleckers in the first round of the Northern Ireland Open. “He said from the sports he likes.
“He obviously likes snooker so it was going to be me, or [Stephen] Hendry or Jimmy White. He didn’t say the three best sportsmen of all time, he chose from the sports he likes.
"I think people jumped on the bandwagon. It is nice, he is obviously a fan of snooker.”
Turning his attention to his top three, O’Sullivan extended it to a top five.
Formula 1 legend Ayrton Senna was the first name to cross his lips, followed by boxing icon Muhammad Ali.
A pause followed, before the seven-time world champion reeled off greats from the world of tennis and golf.
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“[Novak] Djokovic, [Roger] Federer, Tiger Woods," O'Sullivan said.
“They would be the top ones there.”
Expanding on his reasoning, O’Sullivan said: “I like winners. I don’t have much time for people that don’t win.
“I won’t say losers, but I do love a winner.”
Alan McManus was in the studio alongside O’Sullivan and went for the Rocket, as well as individuals from his passion for cricket and golf.
“I agree with Ronnie, go with sports you like,” McManus said. “I like golf and cricket.
“I would go with Warnie, the great Shane Warne.
“I’d then go with Seve [Ballesteros]. One of those guys, a one-word name everybody knows. The gift of the hands.”
Turning to O’Sullivan, McManus added: “Then this guy here. I have been saying it for years, I don’t want to embarrass him, but I agree with Jamie Carragher.”
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The Home Nations series returns on Sunday with the Northern Ireland Open live and exclusive on discovery+. You can also watch Seventh Heaven, a two-part show about Ronnie O’Sullivan’s historic World Championship win last season, on demand now
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