Darts star Fallon Sherrock ‘hasn’t won anything yet,’ says Van Gerwen ahead of third-round clash
MICHAEL VAN GERWEN tried to burst the Fallon Sherrock bubble by saying: She hasn’t won anything yet.
Everyone in sport has gone Sherrock-mad since she became the first woman to beat a man at the William Hill PDC World Darts Championship.
It has dominated the news agenda, both domestically and abroad, and meant poor old Van Gerwen — indisputably the sport’s biggest name — has been overshadowed.
The pair share the same management company and Van Gerwen respects the talents and nerve of the 25-year-old Milton Keynes star.
Yet he wants everyone to have some perspective ahead of her third-round clash with No 22 seed Chris Dobey on Friday.
Van Gerwen, 30, said: “Fallon is doing quite well.
“With her averages and double percentages, she is changing women’s darts at the moment — but she hasn’t won anything yet.
“If you are going to play in a tournament with the men, then you are going to be treated like the men.
“I’m going to play her, somewhere along the way. That would be nice. She’s a phenomenal player, so I am not surprised by her success at all.
“Everyone makes a big thing of it, but I’ve known all along what she’s capable of, so for me it’s not a big thing.
I’m not interested about giving advice — I’m here for myself, to win the world championship, and whatever she does, I don’t really care.
Michael van Gerwen
“She said to me: ‘I’m having to do a lot of press.’
“I replied: ‘Now you know how I have felt for the last eight or nine years.’
“I’m not interested about giving advice — I’m here for myself, to win the world championship, and whatever she does, I don’t really care.
“It's great for her and the sport because of all the attention darts has been getting, but whatever Fallon or Gerwyn Price does, it’s not in my hands.
“It would be nice to reach another world championship final, but I don’t need to slip under anyone’s radar. I’m the world champion, I like to stand up for myself — I don’t care about anyone else.”
Van Gerwen coped with the oche heat, nuisance Sky cameramen and the high speed as he thrashed Rapid Ricky Evans 4-0 in the third round.
The defending champion has an amazing record against last-16 opponent Stephen Bunting, winning 16 of their 19 clashes and the last six encounters.
Told about his superiority against ‘The Bullet’, Van Gerwen added: “I’m going to make it seventeen.
“He may be playing better than he has for a while, but I’m still going to beat him.”
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There will not be much festive cheer in the Van Gerwen household — because he can never relax at this time of the year.
He said: “I fly back on Boxing Day to prepare myself. Don’t get me wrong, I like family time with my wife and son.
“I don’t like Christmas because of the darts. I need to make sure my hands are on the world championship.”
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