Robertson insists apathy won’t return
NEWLY-CROWNED BGC Masters champion Neil Robertson insists the apathy that followed his last victory at a major tournament will not strike again.
The Cambridge-based Australian picked up the £150,000 winner’s cheque after sweeping to a 10-6 victory over Shaun Murphy at Alexandra Palace on Sunday night.
In 2010 he seized the World Championship title at the Crucible, only for his form to suffer in the ensuing months.
The birth of son Alexander contributed to the slump, but so too did his own declining commitment levels.
The 29-year-old has matured, however, as he targets snooker immortality by completing the final leg of the sport’s triple crown with victory in the UK Championship.
“I completely took my foot off the pedal after the Worlds. I wasn’t running on a lot of sleep because of the baby,” said the world number four.
“I would get to 8pm and 9pm at night and feel like I hadn’t done half of what I’d wanted to.
“But it was also a little bit of laziness on my part, not going to the club when I should have done.
“That’s all changed now and I’ve learnt from that.
“Not many players have won the worlds and the Masters. The UK Championship is the real focus for me now, apart from the world championships.
“My goal is to keep working hard and to become a multiple world, UK and Masters champion, just like many of the greats.
“Maybe winning the Masters will boost my popularity and recognition. When I won the worlds, it wasn’t a great final.”
Robertson underlined his big-game temperament at Alexandra Palace, extending his remarkable 100% record in finals of ranking events to seven.
The ‘Thunder From Down Under’ admits he approaches any showpiece with the conviction he will win.
“You have to have an awful lot of luck and I know this run won’t last forever,” he said.
“If it doesn’t then so be it because it means I will have played in another final.
“I’m obviously very confident going into finals now because I have a perfect record and have beaten some great players - attacking and safety players. I always fancy my chances.”
Murphy’s challenge faded in the second session, but the Sale-based 29-year-old drew enough positives from his performances to leave him feeling positive over the future.
“I’ll head to the next tournament full of confidence as I’ve played some good snooker,” he said.
“There’s a lot of snooker to be played between now and the World Championship.
“Hopefully this is the start of me building something and who knows what will happen when I get there.
“My attacking prowess has come back and I can build on that.
“This has proved I can play well in a major championship, I’ve just come up short this time.”