Stephen Hendry reveals key reason behind Neil Robertson's £500,000 Saudi Arabia Masters win against Ronnie O'Sullivan - 'He didn't realise'
Published 20/08/2025 at 08:38 GMT+1
Neil Robertson will face 12-time women's world champion Reanne Evans in the last 64 of the Wuhan Open in China on Monday, live on TNT Sports and discovery+, aiming to continue his climb back to the snooker summit. The former world No. 1 slumped to 28th in the rankings last year, but has risen to third after enjoying major title wins at the English Open, World Grand Prix and Saudi Arabia Masters.
Robertson holds nerve to make 'biggest shot of tournament' and claim Saudi Arabia Masters title
Video credit: TNT Sports
Neil Robertson has roared back to "where he belongs" at the very top of professional snooker because he has made a conscious decision to speed up, according to seven-time world champion Stephen Hendry.
Hendry revealed he aired Robertson's shot time with the Australian during the UK Championship in York last November, as he lost 6-3 to world No. 1 Judd Trump in the last 32.
Their discussion came after the Melburnian failed to qualify for the 2024 World Championship in Sheffield, and slipped out of the top 16 in ending the 2023/24 season at world No. 28.
But the 2010 Crucible winner began to climb the rankings with a 9-7 win over Wu Yize in the English Open in Brentwood last September before reaching eighth in the rankings, boosted by a 10-0 whitewash of Stuart Bingham in the World Grand Prix final in Hong Kong in March.
Following his epic 10-9 triumph over Ronnie O'Sullivan in the Saudi Arabia Masters final on Saturday, the former world No. 1 will head for the Wuhan Open this week as world No. 3, behind only Trump and Kyren Wilson in the latest standings.
"He's always been a top-four player for me, and he's back where he belongs," said Hendry on the World Snooker Tour podcast.
"There's not a player in the world who doesn't benefit from being a bit quicker, being positive and getting on with it.
/origin-imgresizer.tntsports.io/2025/08/18/image-7b1b1baa-9cf2-43e7-bec8-650d01976ab0-85-2560-1440.jpeg)
‘Oh wow!’ – Watch the top 5 shots from the Saudi Arabia Masters
Video credit: TNT Sports
"He messaged me, I think during the UK Championship last year, and he was up to about 31 seconds a shot.
"I commented that he's at his best when he's at 19 or 20 seconds a shot. He actually didn't realise that he's was up at those figures.
"Sometimes he does get bogged down, or he finds himself slipping into the same kind of pace if his opponent isn't playing the same type of game.
"He's a bully as a player. When he plays at his best, he imposes himself on the game.
"It is going to be really interesting to see how he pushes on. It would be easy to take his foot off the gas when he knows he's in all the main competitions for the rest of the season.
"You don't always play well. When you do get that form, it is easy to take your foot off the gas a little bit and all of a sudden your form just might go from that high that you are on."
Hendry feels Robertson only winning a solitary world title is not a huge surprise due to the intense competition at the summit of the sport.
But the Scot is adamant the 26-time ranking event winner should have been closer to becoming a multiple world champion.
"He should have won at least a couple more, but he's in the game with some incredible players," said Hendry.
"The World Championshp is so hard to win. It is easy to sit here and say he should have won more. But he should have been in more semi-finals and finals, without a doubt.
"I think he's only been one time to the single table [for the semi-finals] since he won it. That is the strangest thing, not that he's only one won."
- O'Sullivan set to revisit 147 gold after historic maximum double in Saudi Arabia
- Was Robertson's title win in Saudi Arabia greater than his Crucible triumph 15 years ago?
- Wuhan Open 2025: How to watch on TNT Sports, live stream
Robertson is due to return to action against 12-time women's world champion Reanne Evans in the last 64 of the season's third ranking event on Monday at 12:30pm, live on TNT Sports and discovery+.
Defending champion Xiao Guodong begins his quest for the £140,000 first prize against Mink Nutcharut at 3am on Sunday following his 10-7 win over Si Jiahui in last year's final.
- - -
Watch and stream top snooker action, including the Wuhan Open, live and on demand on TNT Sports and discovery+
Related Topics
Advertisement
Advertisement