Stephen Hendry has won just one frame from 10 in the two matches he has played this season amid his disastrous return to the professional snooker circuit.
The seven-time world champion suffered a disappointing 4-1 defeat to Zhang Anda in British Open qualifying on Tuesday. The match comes after Hendry was crushed 5-0 by Mark Joyce in European Masters qualifying.
It has been a difficult comeback to the sport for Hendry, who won a couple of matches last season. However, progress is slow as the 53-year-old has struggled to adapt against the competition on tour amid raised standards in the professional game.
Regardless, Hendry is looking for each and every possible positive - so he celebrated the sole frame he claimed against Zhang. The legend is hoping the motivation of bigger events and playing in front of crowds again will spur him on to return to form.
“Okay we’re making progress, I’ve won a frame. Lost 4-1 to Zhang Anda,” Hendry said in a video posted to Instagram. “Had a 54 break in the frame I won.
“Felt a bit more comfortable out there. Safety errors again, schoolboy errors with safety was very poor. The table was beautiful again, trying to get used to these tables, they’re stunning to play on.
“But yeah, it’s not easy. Listen it’s not the most exciting thing to go out there and play in front of no people and play these matches, but it’s what I’ve got to do, it’s where I am.
“Felt a bit more comfortable and the more matches I play the more comfortable I’ll get. There’s bigger targets as the season goes on, the UK is obviously a big one. Another defeat but a frame won!”
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While Hendry was disappointed by his performance, Zhang is so certainly no slouch. The Chinese star made breaks of 78, 75 and 59 en route to his win.
It appears the Scot is struggling to motivate himself as he searches for form. Hendry was awarded invitational tour cards to return to the professional tour after retiring, but he has had to compete in qualifiers attended by very few spectators, if any.
In an Instagram post prior to his game against Zhang, Hendry - nicknamed the King of the Crucible - did not sound particularly pleased by the whole ordeal as he arrived at Robin Park Leisure Centre in Wigan. Hendry said: “Another glamorous venue on my comeback, as it were, this time we’re in Wigan at the Robin Park Leisure Centre, playing Zhang Anda in the British Open.
“Nice drive up the M6 last night, stayed at the Premier Inn, McDonalds at 11 o’clock. Living the dream, folks, living the dream in Wigan. 1 o’clock, hopefully be in the car by 3.”
Hendry, whose record of seven world titles was matched by Ronnie O'Sullivan earlier this year, is set to next play in the Scottish Open qualifiers - which begin in the week of 9 October - after he pulled out of the Northern Ireland Open qualifiers scheduled for later this month. He is hoping to improve his form ahead of the UK Championship qualifiers, which run from 5-10 November in Sheffield.
