Hendry survives Robertson scare

By Jonathan Rawcliffe
BBC Sport at The Crucible

Hendry's overnight advantage made it difficult for Robertson

Stephen Hendry was made to work hard before securing a 10-7 first-round win over qualifier Neil Robertson.

The world number three led the Australian 7-2 overnight after a first session featuring five breaks over 50, including a first-frame 103.

Despite going 8-2 down, Robertson composed himself and won four frames in a row, making a 110 in the process, to peg Hendry back at 9-7.

But his efforts turned out to be in vain when Hendry took the 17th.

The seven-time Crucible champion later confessed his form had dipped as a result of resuming with a five-frame advantage.

"My attitude wasn't great going into this morning," he said.

"It's hard to have the same attitude when you've got a big lead. You've got to try and stop yourself from thinking the match is over.

"Consequently, you're not as sharp as you are at the start of the match."

Hendry will not win another world title. He seems to get a lead these days and then struggle to finish someone off. From S Join the debate on Snooker

Robertson admitted nerves had got the better of him on his Crucible debut, with his heavy first-session defeat costing him dear.

"I wish I had gone into the match yesterday as I did today," the world number 68 said.

"It was all new to me, playing somebody like Stephen Hendry or Jimmy White at the Crucible.

"They've made the venue their own over the years."

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S HENDRY (Sco) 10-7 N ROBERTSON (Aus)

113-16 (103) 1-74 (61) 75-36 (50) 84-8 (84) 94-20 (94) 43-58 78-46 86-0 72-62 (62 Robertson) 69-27 (68) 21-67 81-13 26-67 26-72 (54) 10-59 (51) 0-110 (110) 76-24