'Hit by a truck' - Neil Robertson admits performance in loss to Judd Trump impacted by death of Shane Warne
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Updated 04/03/2022 at 22:29 GMT
Shane Warne was found dead in Thailand at the age of 52 on Friday and Neil Robertson has admitted the legendary Australian cricketer's death had a major impact on his performance during his loss to Judd Trump in the quarter-finals of the Welsh Open. Trump claimed a 5-3 win with Robertson well below his scintillating best.
'Stunned' - Robertson devastated by 'idol and national hero' Warne's death
Neil Robertson has conceded his performance in his loss to Judd Trump at the Welsh Open was impacted by the death of Shane Warne.
It was announced on Friday afternoon that legendary Australian cricketer Warne had been found dead in Thailand at the age of 52.
Robertson has revealed he learned of Warne’s death shortly before he arrived at the arena in Newport, and said he could not process the news and was unable to find his form.
“Hit by a truck with the news just leaving my hotel about Shane Warne,” Robertson told Eurosport. “National hero, an idol of mine growing up as a kid and was fortunate to meet him.
“The worst news would be a family member, but as close to, and as much as I tried today I could not do anything.
"My arm felt heavy, my head felt heavy on my shoulders sitting in the chair.
“The more I tried to delete what happened overnight from my brain, the more it was in there and I just could not concentrate. I could not think properly and could not do anything.
“An awful situation for myself to be in as waking up this morning I felt really good and looking forward to the match.
“I felt deflated and could not get anything going.”
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'What a bit of cueing!' - Robertson starts frame in style against Trump
Robertson said he tried to dig in, and had a chance to force a deciding frame, but was unable to get it done.
“I fought well and tried hard, I even had a chance to make it 4-4 when 99 times out of 100 I would make it 4-4, but I just felt terrible coming to the table," he said. "I have never felt like that before, so I can't really compare it to anything else playing professional snooker. It is just awful.“
Robertson says the whole nation will be grieving for a national hero.
“All of Australia will be in mourning,” Robertson said. “It is devastating, he is our national hero.
“What he did for a couple of decades for Australia and for cricket around the world.
“This is like when [Diego] Maradona died for Argentineans. This is as bad as it gets.”
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