January 18th 2024.
In a recent interview, snooker legend Stephen Hendry shared his thoughts on the tense feud between Ronnie O'Sullivan and Ali Carter. According to Hendry, the two players' clash at the Masters was a result of mental exhaustion from their intense campaigns at the prestigious event.
As many fans may remember, O'Sullivan and Carter's rivalry came to a head during the final at Alexandra Palace last Sunday. While the Rocket emerged victorious with a 10-7 win, the tension between the two players continued to escalate during the post-match press conferences.
Carter accused O'Sullivan of unsportsmanlike behavior on the table, to which the world number one responded with a strong retort. "He needs to sort his f***ing life out," O'Sullivan stated, clearly fed up with Carter's accusations. "I don't give a f*** about any of these snooker players, any of them."
Hendry addressed the explosive situation, acknowledging the long-standing animosity between O'Sullivan and Carter. "It's between the two of them," he stated on the Snooker Club podcast. "There's bad blood there, there's no doubt about it. Obviously, they've known each other for a long time."
The snooker legend also expressed concern for both players, noting that the intense pressure of competing in a major event like the Masters can take a toll on one's mental state. "Winning these big events, it might not look like it with Ronnie, but it does take it out of you mentally," Hendry explained.
However, he also believes that O'Sullivan is able to handle the pressure and any external conflicts with ease. "These sort of things just sort of brush off Ronnie," he said, admiring the Rocket's ability to stay focused on his game.
Hendry also pointed out that O'Sullivan's bold and aggressive playing style can be frustrating for opponents, and could be seen as a lack of respect. "The way he was playing all week, it's bordering on taking the mickey out of your opponent," he stated. "It's almost like: 'Well I'm just going to do what I want and if you can't handle it then fair enough.'"
Despite the tension between O'Sullivan and Carter, Hendry believes that both players will have to put their differences aside and focus on their upcoming matches. "The next time they play each other, it's going to be spicy," he predicted.
In the end, Hendry hopes that both players will be able to move on from this feud and continue to showcase their incredible talents on the snooker table. After all, as he pointed out, "They've got to start again this week."
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