Fan favourite Ronnie O’Sullivan says it is an honour to be compared to tennis legend Roger Federer as he tries to win yet another World Championships crown this year.

The 43-year-old has enjoyed a sensational season so far as he continues to break more records despite playing in fewer tournaments.

‘The Rocket’ won the Tour Championship at the end of March after beating Neil Robertson, Judd Trump and Stuart Bingham in three thrilling matches.

He has also won the Players Championship, UK Championship, Champion of Champions and Shanghai Masters.

O’Sullivan is widely regarded as the best snooker player of all time, but he has yet to surpass Stephen Hendry’s record of seven world titles.

Robertson likened him to Federer earlier this month and O’Sullivan insists he is just enjoying himself as he prepares to win his sixth world crown, which punters can back at odds of 3.50.

He told Marca: “The style evolved over the last years. It’s nice when someone like Neil Robertson says good things about me being the Roger Federer of snooker.

“When it’s someone like Neil or Stephen Hendry or John Higgins, it means much more. But you have to follow your records, and about who is the best snooker player now, it’s a matter between me and Hendry. He won seven world titles, while I have just five, but it seems I have all the other records.

“It’s nice, I can reflect on my career now and be satisfied with it in many ways. Every season there seems to be someone that’s playing well, but I seem to have always been there. It’s Mark Selby, then Neil Robertson, Judd Trump then John Higgins, Mark Williams but I always seem to be always there, so I’m happy I’ve always been able to have consistency at the highest level.”

Trump is his closest rival in the betting for the World Championships and he is available at odds of 6.00 while Mark Selby is priced at 10.00 to win the title again.