Shaun Murphy backs Ronnie O’Sullivan after whitewash but Rocket looks low on fuel

Résumé détaillé

It was a day to forget for Ronnie O’Sullivan in Leicester on Wednesday (Picture: Shutterstock) Shaun Murphy insists Ronnie O’Sullivan does still hold a fear factor after brushing…

Shaun Murphy insists Ronnie O’Sullivan does still hold a fear factor after brushing aside a seriously out-of-form Rocket at Champion of Champions.

O’Sullivan has now lost his opening match at three tournaments on the spin, last winning a game in August and he was much nearer his worst than his best as he lost 4-0 to Murphy on Wednesday.

The ‘Come on Ronnie’ shouts from the Leicester crowd were not rowdy with an air of expectation that he will produce some brilliance, more sympathetic encouragement, hoping to cajole their hero into life.

‘He didn’t look comfortable out there, there was a litany of mistakes from him,’ former world champion Ken Doherty said on ITV4 after the Rocket managed a high break of 35 in the loss.

‘He can spark into life so quickly but there was nothing there. He doesn’t look sharp at all.

‘From Ronnie’s point of view I would say he’ll be very disappointed and the fans will be as well.’

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The 50-year-old is still ranked 13 in the world, but faces a slide down the rankings if results do not improve significantly.

Defeat to a top player like Murphy would not cause concern on another day, but his performance was so far from peak O’Sullivan that his fans will be worried about his future at the top of the game.

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