Snooker icon Stephen Hendry has warned Ali Carter to be careful not to let his bitter feud with Ronnie O’Sullivan affect his performances. Carter and O’Sullivan have had a strained relationship for several years, but it came to a head after their Masters final last week..
Carter accused O’Sullivan of “exploding all over the floor” during the match, which The Rockets won 10-7. The seven-time world champion responded by telling Carter to “get his life right” through violence..
Hendry now warned Carter that the claim could affect his performance.”Carter has to be careful not to let things like that affect him, especially when he’s playing in the Grand Prix this week, not to let it affect his game,” Hendry said on the Snooker Club podcast..
“People don’t realize that winning these big events … it might not look like it with Ronnie, how he handles it so easily, but it takes it away mentally.”.
Hendry added that Masters week had left both players mentally drained, which could excuse their behaviour.He continued: “Both players are mentally exhausted after this week and sometimes they ask you in a press conference right after and you’re still angry after a loss and you react differently in six months than you would expect. an hour to hold a press conference.
“So things are still obviously rough for both players, but they have to start again this week and the next time they play each other it’s going to be spicy, no doubt about it.
“The audience spat. started when Carter accused O’ Sullivan about to “blow the floor.” Informed of what Carter said, O’Sullivan raised his middle finger and blurted out, “I think he can sit on it. I don’t care about that. You know what he’s like, everyone knows what he’s like. He has problems..
