Fallon Sherrock says she will embrace the pressure that comes with facing Mensur Suljovic in the last 16 of the Grand Slam of Darts on Thursday night (Sherrock 9/5, Suljovic 4/9).
Sherrock (66/1 – Tournament outright) made history when she became the first woman to reach the last 16 of the tournament thanks to a 5-3 comeback win over Gabriel Clemens, battling back from 3-1 down on Tuesday evening in Wolverhampton.
The 27-year-old now takes on Suljovic, who she memorably beat in the second round of the 2020 PDC World Championship, and she insists she will handle the occasion.
She said: “I feel really comfortable being up on the stage, especially playing all these really good players as it makes my game even better because they are pushing me every level I can.
“It seems like when I’m put in the pressure situations I really perform, I don’t know how I do it, I have no idea – I think I get more calm.
“I’m really looking forward to (playing Suljovic), I just can’t wait. I’m just going to go out and play my own game and not think too much about it.”
Sherrock is due on the oche against her Austrian opponent just after 21:00 with Michael van Gerwen’s (3/10 – To win) clash against Gary Anderson (12/5) scheduled for afterwards.
There are two other second round ties before Sherrock takes to the stage with Michael Smith (4/5 – To win) taking on Joe Cullen (EVS) first from 19:15, then Peter Wright (4/5) goes up against Jose De Sousa (EVS).
On Wednesday night, in the first batch of second round matches, Gerwyn Price (7/2 – Tournament outright) survived a scare to edge out Bradley Brooks 10-8, while Rob Cross beat Ryan Joyce 10-4.
James Wade was a comfortable 10-2 victor over Rowby-John Rodriguez and Jonny Clayton easily saw off Nathan Rafferty 10-2.
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