Ronnie O’Sullivan is gunning for glory at the English Open this week but he is still concerned with the way he is playing. The 45-year-old won the tournament in 2017 – a year after it’s inauguration – and he is not confident of enjoying similar success this time around.
“The tip is still not great,” O’Sullivan told Eurosport after reaching the semi-finals. “I’ve got no confidence in it. I’m hitting the ball well so I am able to override it but if I am not hitting the ball out of the button…
“It is a bit hard as mentally it’s like ‘can I play perfect for two days?’
“Confidence-wise I am hitting the ball as well as I can. I am hitting the ball so true.
“It (the tip) is not coming off, I will reshape it and it will see me through to the end.“
O’Sullivan also raised concerns over his confidence, despite his father’s best efforts to build him up.
“I have always had no confidence,” he added. ”If it wasn’t for my dad, I don’t think I’d have had the confidence to go out there and play.
“I did not think I was good enough, and he made me believe in myself. Steve Peters has taken that role over, Damien (Hirst) as well. They are able to make me feel relaxed and go out there.
“I have gained confidence over the past few years. It is hard.
“I look at the guys on tour and wish I had some of their confidence, and they probably wish they had some of my break-building ability.
“You are given what you are given and have to make the best of it.”
English Open snooker scores LIVE
SEMI-FINALS
1pm: Ronnie O’Sullivan vs John Higgins
7pm: Mark King vs Neil Robertson
English Open snooker results
QUARTER-FINALS
Friday, November 5
Judd Trump 3-5 Mark King
Ronnie O’Sullivan 5-1 Luca Brecel
John Higgins 5-3 Yan Bingtao
Neil Robertson 5-4 Kyren Wilson
ROUND 3
Thursday, November 3
Judd Trump 4-1 Ross Muir
Mark King 4-0 Paul Deaville
Kyren Wilson 4-1 Robbie Williams
Mark Davis 3-4 Neil Robertson
Ronnie O’Sullivan 4-0 Jamie Clarke
Yan Bingtao 4-3 Mark Selby
Luca Brecel 4-2 Fraser Patrick