Mark Selby compared to tennis icon Novak Djokovic despite World Grand Prix loss to Stuart Bingham - 'Hardest to beat'

TNT Sports commentator Dominic Dale compared Mark Selby to tennis icon Novak Djokovic during his World Grand Prix quarter-final defeat to Stuart Bingham, praising the 41-year-old for being among the 'hardest to beat' when in full-flow. Of course, the commentator's curse subsequently reared its head as Bingham came from 4-2 behind to claim a narrow 5-4 win over Selby and seal his semi-final spot.

Mark Selby was compared to Novak Djokovic during his World Grand Prix quarter-final encounter with Stuart Bingham.

On Friday, Bingham came from 4-2 behind to claim a narrow 5-4 victory against Selby and a place in the semi-final, where he will face world No. 1 Trump.

Indeed, Bingham’s victory from the brink of defeat was particularly impressive, given Selby’s unflappable consistency and ruthlessness was being heralded by the TNT Sports commentary team midway through the match.

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As Selby closed in on a 4-2 lead, TNT Sports commentator Dominic Dale compared Selby to tennis great Djokovic, on account of both being so difficult to beat when in full flow.

"I’ve always likened Mark Selby to Novak Djokovic," Dale said. "When both he and Mark are at their very best, they are the hardest players to beat in their respective sports.

"I know Stephen Hendry agreed with me, we were talking about Mark Selby just before Christmas."

'Ouch!' - Bingham hurts his groin during quarter-final clash with Selby

Video credit: TNT Sports

In response, David Hendon said: "Yes. When he was in initially, he didn’t get a great angle on the blue, didn’t get on the red.

"Let’s be honest, there are some players who would have thrown their arms up [and said] ‘How unlucky am I?’ and all that. There’s none of that [with Selby].

"It’s just back to safety, let’s make it as hard as we can for Stuart and let's force another opening. That’s exactly what he’s done."

• Higgins stuns Wilson to move into quarter-finals, breaks O'Sullivan record
• Wasp wreaks havoc during Gilbert's clash with Robertson

Of course, what followed was an impressive Bingham comeback, as the 48-year-old snatched all three of the final frames to book his semi-final spot.

Earlier, Shaun Murphy dispatched John Higgins 5-3, while Neil Robertson beat Xiao Guodong by the same scoreline to reach the final four.

Meanwhile, Trump breezed through his quarter-final with Hossein Vafaei, hitting four centuries, including a career-first 146, and winning 5-0.

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