Gerwyn Price has confessed that a 'lazy' streak is creeping into his approach as he prepares for the long days of major tournament darts. The Welshman, speaking after defeating Cameron Menzies on Saturday, admitted he is prioritising recovery and personal time over arduous practice and media commitments ahead of his European Championship clash with Stephen Bunting.
Price felt he was "going through the motions" against Menzies and acknowledged a slow start. "Yeah, I felt like I was quite slow out of the blocks. Didn't really get going until the middle or back end of the game. And, yeah, sometimes you can get caught up in how the game's going and the feeling of the game," he told the media, including DartsNews.com. "I just felt like I was going through the motions. I felt like if Cameron threw something at me, I could throw something a little bit back, but there was a lot coming. Which is no disrespect to Cameron, because I was throwing a lot at him, but if I'd done a lot more to him, he'd probably have done the same to me. But, yeah, I just feel like the better someone plays against me, the better I play."
Reflecting on Menzies' unpredictable style, Price added: "Exactly as in the game. He can throw a bag of nails and then it's 180s for fun, so you just don't know what to expect. Even though in the game I felt like I was in control, especially after the first break, I felt like I was in control, but you just don't know what to expect from him. You know how well he can play and how good he can be at powering in the 180s and checking out for fun. I'm just glad he didn't find that sort of game, but if he did, I probably would have played a little bit better myself."
Looking ahead to a potentially gruelling Sunday, where he could play a maximum of three games in a longer format, Price discussed the challenges of scheduling. "I don't think I'll be first on tomorrow. Just the fact that you get the rest of today to rest, but you've got to play tonight and so on. I don't think it matters today. Sometimes, if you have to play two games in one day, it's difficult, but if you're only playing one game, it doesn't really matter. I just hope they don't chuck me on last tomorrow, because then you have to probably stay at the venue. It's hard work, so fingers crossed I'll be on third. I think with a Sunday, you either want to be on early or definitely not last, but you have to deal with what comes at you. I have done over the last couple of months, and it is what it is. You just deal with the consequences and play as best you can."
Price also opened up about his evolving preparation, admitting he is getting lazy with the long days. "I felt like in the earlier days, maybe five or six years ago, I dealt with it a bit better. I'm getting lazy now, I think. I just turn up with some decent time. I try and give Josh the time that I'm turning up for media, so that I get my media done and I get three hours so I can prepare. I just want three hours to myself. As long as I've got them, three hours so I can do my own thing, practise on the board and just prepare as best I can, then I'm happy."
On the social side of the tour, Price remains adaptable. "I can do both. If there are players around that I like to communicate with, have a practice with and spend a bit of time with, I'll do it. But if they've gone out and I'm stuck on my own, then I can do it both ways. It doesn't really matter, that side of it."
