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Novak Djokovic will use US setback to ‘fuel’ him to further success says Chris Evert
Novak Djokovic will use US setback to ‘fuel’ him to further success says Chris Evert,Novak Djokovic will be ‘fuelled’ to use his latest American setback to propel him to further success this year, according to 18-time Grand Slam champion Chris Evert.

Novak Djokovic will use US setback to ‘fuel’ him to further success says Chris Evert

Novak Djokovic will be ‘fuelled’ to use his latest Americansetback to propel him to further success this year, according to 18-time GrandSlam champion Chris Evert.

The World No.1 recently withdrew from this week’s IndianWells event due to his vaccination status preventing him from entering theUnited States. He hasn’t pulled out of the following event in Miami but it islikely just a matter of time before he confirms he won’t take any part in theswing nicknamed the ‘Sunshine Double’.

It means that Djokovic will turn his attention to the claycourt swing which starts shortly after events in the US and Evert exclusivelytold Eurosport the North American snub will make the 22-time major champ evenmore ‘”determined” to achieve number 23 at Roland Garros in May.

Asked whether the latest setback would fuel  Djokovic, Evert responded:</p>    <blockquote>        <p>“Yeah, I think the more somebody tells Novak he can't do this, the more determined he is. When he has control of the situation, it gives him more fuel and it makes him more determined to succeed, and stick it in everybody's face at the same time, make his point. He is like the anti-hero sometimes, he seems to really rise to the occasion when he is challenged and when he's told 'no'.”</p>         Chris Evert on Djokovic     </blockquote> <p>    Evert reaffirmed her belief that the Serbian remains king ofthe men’s game, despite the emergence of players like Spanish sensation CarlosAlcaraz.

She added:

<blockquote>        <p>“It is an open field if Novak is not playing in the tournament. If he is playing in the tournament, he is always going to be the favourite. So even though he is not playing a full schedule because he can't because of the vaccination, I think in everybody's minds it really doesn't matter. He is still the No. 1 in the world. Whether he plays a full schedule or a three-quarter schedule, he is still number one in everybody's minds."</p>         Chris Evert on Djokovic     </blockquote>