Neil Robertson: ‘Open matches suit me’

The Australian is the current world number four.

Neil Robertson won a tight contest with Mark Davis in a decider to reach the quarter-finals of the English Open on Thursday at the Marshall Arena in Milton Keynes.

The former world champion trailed the 2018 runner-up 2-0 but fought back with breaks of 72, 85, and a 73 in the final frame to deny the veteran Englishman.

“It was a really good match overall,” Robertson told the World Snooker Tour soon after a victory that sees him reach the last eight of a ranking event for the first time this campaign.

“I thought Mark played really well, early on his safety was really good and he didn’t let me in. It was certainly a match that was worthy of a decider.”

“He just missed a really tricky black there to give himself a good chance to win, thankfully he just missed it, and I made a really good frame-winning break.

“My game is building and building. It was nice to finish that off, it was a pretty fluent match, nice and open, and that’s the key.

“I’ve got to make sure I’m involved in as many open matches as possible because that suits me, and if you get hammered then so be it, but you’d always rather lose in an open game of snooker than one that can drag on a bit.”

Next up for the Melbourne man is a quarter-final encounter with Kyren Wilson, who Robertson lost to at the Crucible Theatre at the same stage earlier this year.

“He has got a really good all-round game, he never gives in which showed in the World Championship. There were a few times when I was within an inch of going three frames up on him, but he dug in and ended up winning those frames.”

“He’s got a great ability to stick in a match and never give in, you know he’s nicknamed the Warrior for a reason – he fights and really wants it, so it’s a fantastic challenge for me to face so early in the season and I look forward to the match.”

Later this month, Robertson will defend the UK Championship title that he so dramatically won at Judd Trump’s expense on the final pink almost twelve months ago, and the 39 year-old is eager to compete again for one of the sport’s most prestigious crowns.

“I can’t wait. York was one of the first tournaments that I thought of and couldn’t wait to get back to once the season started with the crowds again.”

“That’s always one that all the players love going to, there’s always a lot to do in between matches and stuff – the practice facilities, the venue, the town is perfect. It’s one that I’m really looking forward to and things are building nicely.”

In the other three English Open last-eight fixtures, reigning champion Trump takes on Mark King, Ronnie O’Sullivan faces Luca Brecel, and John Higgins entertains Yan Bingtao.

Click here to view the full 2021 BetVictor English Open draw (times: CET)

Where to Watch the English Open

The tournament will be available to UK and Irish viewers on Quest TV in addition to blanket Eurosport coverage provided across all of Europe.

Various broadcasters around the world will be offering coverage (information here), while fans in territories without another service can access the event through Matchroom.Live.

Featured image credit: WST