German Masters 2023: Former world champion Neil Robertson battles back to beat Joe Perry to move into last 16

Neil Robertson is into the last 16 of the German Masters but was made to work hard for his 5-3 win over Joe Perry.

Robertson, the highest ranked player in the main draw, struggled in the early exchanges and looked to be barely clinging on at 3-1 down going into the interval.

However, in a match of two halves, the 40-year-old soon found his range and despite the best and bravest efforts of his opponent, was able to eventually book his place in the next round.

Perry came out of the traps faster and emerged from an early safety battle to register an impressive 67 break to take the lead in the match.

Robertson was unable to get near his opponent in the second, even after Perry missed a red to left middle to give him some hope.

Unable to capitalise, the former world champion soon found himself two down.

The expectation that Robertson would eventually find his groove was not unfounded as he took the third but needed a stroke of luck as Perry went in-off sinking a cut-back, and made a break of 71 to get himself back into the match.

Undaunted, Perry’s two-frame lead was re-established with breaks of 54 and 65 in the fourth to go into the interval just two frames from victory.

The break initially didn’t appear to do Robertson any good as an early miss in the fifth opened the door for Perry.

However, after an unlucky Perry went in-off for the third time, a tense safety exchange followed and it was the Australian who came out on top, having seemingly finally found his groove – moving to within one frame of Perry once again.

A lengthy sixth-frame battle went the way of Robertson as Perry allowed more errors to creep into his game and all of a sudden, it was now a best of three to advance to the next round.

Robertson was soon ahead for the first time after total control of the next frame, although he was ever so slightly frustrated after a break of 96 with a maximum in sight.

A century did arrive in what was to be the final frame. Perry could only look on as Robertson finished in style, taking his fourth frame on the bounce with a break of 118 to seal the match.

– – –