RONNIE O’SULLIVAN sends messages to rafael nadalon the upcoming...

Ronnie O’Sullivan is bidding to win his third consecutive event in China at this week’s Wuhan Open. On Thursday, the world No. 1 safely progressed to the quarter-finals and will face Lyu Haotian next on Friday. Speaking after defeating Yuan Sijun on Thursday, O’Sullivan says he feels as comfortable playing snooker in China as Rafael Nadal does playing tennis on clay because of the conditions.

Ronnie O’Sullivan has compared how comfortable he is playing snooker in China to 22-time Grand Slam tennis champion Rafael Nadal playing tennis on a clay surface.

O’Sullivan has been enjoying a spell of fine form in China, having won the 2022 Hong Kong Masters and the recent Shanghai Masters where he overcame Luca Brecel 11-9 in the final.

‘The Rocket’ is chasing his third consecutive event win in the nation at the Wuhan Open this week and is into the last-eight after beating China’s Yuan SiJun 5-1 on Thursday.

The seven-time world champion said he feels as at home playing in China as 14-time French Open winner Nadal does on the red dirt.

“I think these conditions [in China] suit me and Judd [Trump] more than anyone else,” he said.

“I liken it a bit to Nadal playing on clay. It forces you to play certain shots. You can be in perfect position one minute and then out of position the next. You need to be a bit of a shotmaker. The ball runs on and you can’t screw it as much.

“The white tends to go near the side cushion if you don’t play it correctly. Methodical players don’t like that. Me and Judd make it up as we go along.”

In the last frame against Yuan, O’Sullivan trailed 63-5 but got the necessary blacks to clinch the frame and ultimately the victory. O’Sullivan admitted he liked having to fight back to seal the win.

“I quite like that sort of challenge sometimes,” he said.

“I didn’t expect to win it, but you know what you have to do and know you need to go red, black, red, black to have a chance.

“There is nothing to lose in a frame like that.”