Domestic duties call for Neil Robertson after ManBetX Welsh Open exit to Kyren Wilson
By Will Jennings
Neil Robertson is looking forward to a return to domestic duties after crashing out of the ManBetX Welsh Open.
The Cambridge-based potter succumbed to a surprise 5-0 defeat against world No 8 Kyren Wilson in the quarter-finals, watching breaks of 79, 67 and 63 from the chair to dash his hopes of a third ranking event title in just three weeks.
And the world No 2, who has endured a hectic period on the circuit recently, says it will be a relief to head back home and see his family - wife Mille, and children Alexander and Penelope - for a few days.
“Mille’s going to Spain for a much-needed week off with a friend, so I’ve got both kids to myself,” he said.
“It might be a bit of a handful but it’s going to be really good - I’m going to have a few days off, and just take over with the dad duties and things like that, so I’m really looking forward to it.
“I’m obviously not playing the Snooker Shoot Out next week, so I can have a really good four or five days off away from the table and then get back and get ready for the back end of the season.
“I woke up this morning and I felt a lot of optimism for the match, but I could sense I was very flat out there - not physically tired, but just flat.
“I felt absolutely fine and there was no pressure on me whatsoever, but it was just a very flat performance, and something that I probably expected to happen to me earlier on in the week.”
Robertson had revealed he almost withdrew from the competition in the Welsh capital after winning the European Masters and World Grand Prix in recent weeks, also coming runner-up at the German Masters in Berlin.
But he says he has no regrets about returning to Cardiff to defend his 2019 title and is proud of his efforts despite suffering defeat.
“I’m glad I came to the tournament and stuck it out, as it was good to see how far I could actually push myself in a fourth competitive week,” he added.
“I think it’s a fantastic achievement to make the quarter-finals still - pushing myself to a fourth competitive week like this is something I don’t think has ever been done in the game before.
“And certainly not three finals in three different countries in three consecutive weeks, so I’m really content and really happy.”
Watch the Welsh Open live on Eurosport and Eurosport Player with analysis from Jimmy White and Neal Foulds
