Simon Whitlock vows to thrill on his Sky Sports return at the World Matchplay
Friday 15 July 2016 14:12, UK
Simon Whitlock has warned his World Matchplay rivals that he’s ready to roll back the clock and re-establish himself as an elite thrower.
'The Wizard' is a two-time semi-finalist in Blackpool and was the runner-up in the 2010 World Championship, but has seen the past two years blighted by a loss of form.
Whitlock has now mocked his PDC ranking of No 20 and vowed to prove he has not lost any of his oche eccentricity.
I've got a hit-list at home that I make every year. Everybody ranked above me is on it.
"I look at players ranked above me, and I know I'm better than them," he exclusively told Sky Sports. "There are not 19 better players in the world than myself. I just need to prove that I'm better than these guys.
"I've got a hit-list at home that I make every year. Everybody ranked above me is on it.
"I wouldn't mind playing Jelle Klaasen, I've got a 100 per cent record against him in Blackpool. I wouldn't mind playing James Wade. They've all got targets on their back, every one of them."
The 47-year-old is unseeded at the Matchplay because he lies outside the PDC's top 16, so will face seventh seed Michael Smith in the opening round.
Whitlock has vowed to impress in Blackpool and use the tournament as a springboard back into the big-time.
"I'd love to get back on the big stage, that's my dream, that's where I want to play," he said. "I've been really disappointed, that's why I changed everything - my diet, my activities at home.
"I always want to win and to be the best so the last few years have been pretty disappointing. I don't really know what to put it down to. I changed equipment, but that was after my performances slumped.
"The standard has got better so that's affected me winning as many games. I'm playing as good, if not better, than I was four years ago but the standard has gone through the roof. You can't win a game without a 100 average.
"The Wizard's not done with, yet."
The World Matchplay is live on Sky Sports between July 16-24.
