Ronnie O'Sullivan 'very ragged' as snooker star struggles on return at Players Championship after break
Ronnie O'Sullivan lifts an eighth Masters title.mp4
Two former snooker players have claimed Ronnie O'Sullivan looked 'very ragged' upon his return to competing at the Players Championship.
The Rocket was back in action on Tuesday evening against Zhou Yuelong, almost a month since his last competitive match.
O'Sullivan has won four tournaments this season, including the first two Triple Crown events, but felt he needed a break from playing after victory at the World Grand Prix in January.
He pulled out of the German Masters to protect his 'health and wellbeing' and withdrew from the Welsh Open due to 'anxiety'.
Ronnie O'Sullivan struggled upon his return to action at the Players Championship
ITV
But he made his return in Telford on Tuesday in a first-round match against China star Zhou.
O'Sullivan was far from his best in the opening frames, trailing 1-0 and 2-1 before levelling the match up before the interval.
His old rival Stephen Hendry was working as a pundit for ITV 4 and assessed the Rocket's return to the table.
Hendry claimed O'Sullivan was showing clear signs of rust following his time away from competing.
The Scot said: "Some ragged stuff from Ronnie, shall we say. We know how fast a starter Ronnie can be and he just didn't look close.
"He just didn't look on it, Ronnie, for me. And Zhou Yuelong started off really well. Nice crisp ball striking.
"But just when you thought he was going to stamp his authority on the match, there were unforced errors that are sort of holding him back, Zhou Yuelong.
"Ronnie's always going to produce little bits of magic. What's his highest break? 62, Ronnie, he's not looked as sharp.
"He's always going to have the cue ball control, even when he's playing badly he's always going to sprinkle magic."
Former world champion Ken Doherty agreed with Hendry that O'Sullivan was rusty at the start of the match.
He claimed the 48-year-old was lucky to not be behind at the interval.
Doherty commented: "Yeah absolutely, he looks very rusty. Judd Trump looked a little bit rusty [on Monday].
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Stephen Hendry claimed Ronnie O'Sullivan looked rusty at the Players Championship
ITV
"After the break, Trump was lucky to be 2-2 at the interval and certainly Ronnie O'Sullivan is lucky to be 2-2. Zhou Yuelong has missed a little trick there.
"[O'Sullivan] did look very ragged and I thought it was a very good chance for Zhou Yuelong.
"Ronnie is giving him chances and all he has to do is be a little more patient. He sort of pushed the boat out.
"I think of the two players, Ronnie will be absolutely delighted to be 2-2 at the interval."
Ken Doherty said Ronnie O'Sullivan looked 'very ragged' against Zhou Yuelong
ITV
Zhou has not beaten O'Sullivan in their previous six meetings in ranking events.
Hendry believes the 26-year-old was trying too hard to be in front of his opponent.
He added: "He was almost desperate to get that lead, desperate to get in front and try and get some sort of advantage.
"It just didn't go, everyone can see that. Sometimes you just try and convince yourself on a shot that 'yeah it does go' when it doesn't. And he's sort of let Ronnie a little bit off the hook."
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