O’Sullivan not surprised by whitewash win despite injury concern & mad schedule

The Rocket had been playing an exhibition with Jimmy White in Macau over the weekend and only landed back in England on Monday morning, before travelling over to Brentwood for the start of the English Open.

Explaining his hectic schedule before the match to Eurosport, he said: ‘Literally just got back this morning. I flew out Friday afternoon. Had a couple of days in Macau, which was great.

‘Just got in this morning. I feel alright. I haven’t picked my cue up since Shanghai [Masters]. I actually left it in China because I had something in my cue case and they wouldn’t let it through customs..

‘I didn’t want to miss my flight, so I left my cue in China. Went to Spain on holiday for a week after China which was nice. I haven’t played, but the season starts to get going now so plenty of tournaments to get stuck into.’

The world number one wasn’t at his immense best, but it was enough to whitewash Pagett after jetting in from Asia, and he was not surprised to score the victory despite his travels, remembering a run to the final of the 2017 Champion of Champions followed by a win at the Shanghai Masters just days later.

‘Not really,’ he said. ‘I got to the final in Coventry once and travelled Monday morning, arrived in China Tuesday morning, won that match and ended up winning the tournament. So I wasn’t surprised I could do it.

‘I wasn’t sure how I was going to feel, but I wasn’t that bothered, I was just trying to get some table time this week and get some practice. Every match I win is a bonus.’

O’Sullivan was in pain during the match with the Welshman, as a problem with tennis elbow continues to cause him problems.

Painkillers and possibly another cortisone injection could be on the menu for him in the coming days.

‘It’s no good really. I’ve tried resting it. I’ll get back on the painkillers. It’ll be alright once I take the painkillers. Long-term I don’t want to keep taking them,’ O’Sullivan explained.

‘I might have to have another cortisone, which will be my third one, which I don’t really want to do because it weakens the muscles apparently.

‘They’re only meant to be emergencies which I’ve used on two occasions, so if I have to have another one I will, but maybe I’ll try some acupuncture or some really good physio.

‘It started in 2022, I had it before in 2021 but it was alright. I went in the gym, lifted too many heavy weights and literally couldn’t pick a cup of tea up. From that moment onwards it’s been very weak. The injections sort it out, but I aggravate it and it goes back to not so good.

‘Tennis elbow, it’s called, so hopefully get someone good to rehab it. I’ve got to do something.

‘I’ll take the painkillers for this tournament and hopefully they’ll allow me to hit the ball as firmly as I want, because playing with a sore arm, you’re trying to hit the ball, you don’t quite commit to the shot.’

The Rocket is back in action on Wednesday against Jackson Page in round two.

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