Ronnie O'Sullivan looking to rediscover top form ahead of World Snooker Championship - 'I'm not feeling good'
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Published 03/04/2024 at 12:09 GMT
Ronnie O'Sullivan made the latest in a series of detrimental remarks regarding his own performances in the build-up to the 2024 World Championship, which begins on April 20. The world No.1 believes he is still performing well below par, and is searching for solutions to rediscover his best form. O'Sullivan is focused on the Tour Championship, and faces Ali Carter in the quarter-finals.
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Ronnie O'Sullivan admits he has struggled to rediscover his top form in a gruelling past couple of years, and insists "I'm not feeling good".
This is in spite of O'Sullivan adding to his bulging trophy cabinet with his eighth titles in the Masters and UK Championship respectively.
The world No.1's more immediate focus is a match against long-term adversary Ali Carter in the Tour Championship quarter-finals.
"I'm trying to figure out why I'm not feeling good when I'm out there," said O’Sullivan in quotes published by the Daily Star. "I'm winning and I'm competing, but I'm not striking the ball well.
"It's hard when you're playing matches against really good players all the time and competing for ranking points. Sometimes you don't relax enough. I need to figure out a way to find my game again and I think that's playing more exhibitions.
"I'm very patchy. The snooker I've played for two years hasn't been great. I've competed and [in] my head I give myself 10/10 for that, I give myself full marks. But technique and execution of the shot, probably four or five out of 10.
"I've had to work hard for my performances. That's not my natural style. You win, but you don't get much satisfaction from it."
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This not the first time O'Sullivan has been publicly critical of his performances, but he felt more comfortable playing in the Riyadh Season World Masters where he beat Luca Brecel 5-2 in the final.
Speaking after a quarter-final victory over John Higgins at the tournament last month, he said: "It's the first time in a while. I've felt OK the last few weeks in practice. Two years of absolute filth and I'm starting to feel alright again. It's been a long time.
"That's the worst part about my job, having to play. Getting away, going to the gym, eating good food, chilling out, watching Netflix. When you're playing OK, it's alright. When you're playing absolute filth, you're like, 'oh no' - it's embarrassing sometimes.
"I don't drink, I don't go out partying so this is a great place for me, this kind of place. In the UK, it's all pubs and drinking."
Following the Tour Championship, O'Sullivan's focus will turn to the World Snooker Championship - a competition which he has won seven times.
Another victory would see The Rocket move past Stephen Hendry's haul and become the outright most successful player in the competition's history.
The main competition begins on April 20, and will be shown live on Eurosport and discovery+.
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