O'Sullivan crashes out of the Welsh Open (original) (raw)
Updated / Thursday, 14 Jun 2007 16:01
Ronnie O'Sullivan's interested in the Welsh Open is over for this year
Ronnie O'Sullivan went out of the Welsh Open to Neil Robertson this afternoon, losing 5-4.
The Australian left-hander's latest high-profile success came less then 24 hours after he had proved too strong for Stephen Hendry - and Robertson was predictably delighted.
'To be an elite player like the O'Sullivans and the Hendrys you've got to consistently beat the top guys. That's why I'm so thrilled by this,' he said.
'I was really confident. I don't know why, but Ronnie doesn't scare me as much as some other players.'
The 25-year-old from Melbourne beat O'Sullivan 5-1 at the corresponding stage of the Grand Prix in October - and went on to lift that trophy.
Robertson is now two wins away from becoming the first multiple ranking event champion in a season since O'Sullivan triumphed in the Grand Prix, Welsh Open and Irish Masters in 2004/05.
'Nowadays it's hard just to win one, so two in such a short space of time would be fantastic,' said Robertson, who now faces Steve Davis or Anthony Hamilton.
Aided by back-to-back century breaks, 122 and 109, O'Sullivan led 4-3 but missed a pink early in the eighth frame - and Robertson swooped with a run of 124.
On 45 in the decider, O'Sullivan jawed a relatively straightforward red - and Robertson, again displaying a cool temperament, fashioned his match-clinching 39 clearance.
O'Sullivan was phlegmatic after his defeat. 'I'm disappointed, but it's only one match,' he said. 'Here, I've been working on a few things to broaden the boundaries of my game. I'll do the same at the China Open - then it's off to Sheffield for the one that really matters.
'I've got no complaints. I've gone from really struggling to feeling half in control of my game.'