Ronnie O'Sullivan's British Open participation in doubt after Wuhan withdrawal
"Ronnie O'Sullivan has pulled out of next week's Wuhan Open in China for medical reasons," a World Snooker Tour statement read. "O'Sullivan was due to meet Allan Taylor in the opening round on Sunday August 24. He will be replaced in the draw with the leading player from the Q School rankings, Germany's Umut Dikme."
The Wuhan Open takes place from August 24-30, with the English Open commencing on September 11. The British Open follows shortly afterwards, with the Cheltenham tournament beginning on September 22.
The specific reason for O'Sullivan's absence in China has not been unveiled, so it is unclear whether he will be able to return to action next month. It's not the first time O'Sullivan has pulled out of an event for medical reasons, either.
An unspecified issue forced him to withdraw from last autumn's Northern Ireland Open at the eleventh hour, and also made a late decision to sit out the Welsh Open in February. The Rocket spoke publicly after the latter decision, sympathising with fans who had travelled to watch him play.
"I realise plenty of people who bought tickets to some recent snooker events will have been frustrated when I withdrew, so I just wanted to say sorry to those of you who've been disappointed with me having to pull out of those tournaments," he said. "I've been trying to prioritise my health and well-being, which sometimes means making last-minute decisions not to play.
"It's never an easy decision and I hate letting people down. I'm doing what I can to get back to my best, and I'm grateful for all your support and understanding."
O'Sullivan's latest withdrawal comes hot on the heels of an impressive display at the Saudi Arabia Snooker Masters in Jeddah. He hit two maximum breaks in a semi-final victory over Chris Wakelin, netting a six-figure prize in the process, but lost 10-9 to Neil Robertson in a thrilling final.
"Neil deserved to win, he was the better player," O'Sullivan said after the defeat. "I just tried to hang on to him and make a game of it. I was pleased to do that, he was outplaying me at 7-2. When I came here I would have been happy just to win a couple of matches. I was pleased with my performances."
Robertson, a former world champion, was thrilled to claim victory after a tough spell. "It feels great to be back in this position," he said. "Coming here last year I was 28th in the world. Hopefully my story will inspire younger generations because you should never give up, you will get ups and downs but it's not about how far you fall, it's about how far you bounce."
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