Aussie favourite and World No.1 Neil Robertson made it through to the final of his home event, with another good victory over Mark Selby. Meanwhile, Marco Fu won the first semi-final, to keep his great run going with a good victory over Robert Milkins to set-up another final, after losing to Ali Carter in the German Masters final back in February. If Robertson were to win it would be back to back ranking events, and would put him even further ahead at the top of the rankings, further proving that he is by far the best player in the world right now.
Semi-Final Results:
Marco Fu 6-4 Robert Milkins - Marco Fu kept his great run going to reach the final of the Australian Open. Fu started off nicely with a 57 break to take the opener and took the next to open up an early 2-0 advantage. Robert hit back with a 52 to in the next, before Fu made a nice 66 to regain the 2 frame lead at the interval. Fu won the next as well to go 4-1 ahead, before Milkins won all of the next 3 to level the match at 4 all, with a top break of 54 in that period. Fu took back control of the match with a 60 break to go 5-4 up and he took a very tight 10th frame and a 6-4 victory to secure his final place.
Neil Robertson 6-3 Mark Selby - Neil Robertson once again found the extra gear when necessary, to take victory in his match against World No.2 Mark Selby. The current World No.1 Robertson started well by taking the opener, before Selby took the next to with breaks of 68 and 63 to take a 2-1 advantage. However, Robertson took the next quite convincingly to square the match at mid-session. A 76 straight after the interval for Selby regained him the 1 frame lead before Robertson exploded. Neil levelled the scores with a 76 and took the next fairly convincingly to take a 4-3 advantage. That was before a 50 put the Aussie one away from his home final. Robertson got there in the next, in style as he always seems to, with a 138 (the highest break of the week so far) to thrill his home fans and win a thrilling contest.
Final Preview:
Neil Robertson Vs Marco Fu - This should be a really entertaining final, with both players in fantastic form (as you would expect in a final) and the pair scoring really heavily when they get in. I expect Fu to start well and I think Robertson will be under huge pressure to start with, but will play well and show form as soon as he settles into the session. Towards the end of the match I think Fu might struggle having not won a ranking event for quite a while now, and Robertson has bags of winning experience and always seems to improve when he sees the winning post rather than running for the hills. Over the long format I just feel Robertson will have more time to gain control of the final and put space between him and Marco, therefore i'd back Robbo to win by 2 or 3 frames tomorrow. Whoever does win tomorrow though will thoroughly deserve it after their performances this week, and I wish the best of luck to both for the final.
Should be a fantastic final to end what has been a good week of snooker in Bendigo with some gripping matches, and I'm sure the Aussie fans won't mind another as long as Neil Robertson wins. I will be back tomorrow to review the whole event and to argue whether or not the contract for the Australian Open should be renewed.
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