"If it's not a possibility, I wouldn't be playing tennis": Novak Djokovic looking forward to beating Nadal on his best surface as clay season beckons

Novak Djokovic faced his first loss of the 2023 season on Friday, falling to Daniil Medvedev in the semifinals of the Dubai Tennis Championships. Within hours of the defeat, the Serb had turned his attention to the next task at hand -- beating his arch-rival Rafael Nadal on clay.

Speaking at his press conference after the 4-6, 4-6 loss, the 22-time Grand Slam champion revealed his plans for the coming days, stating that he was still waiting to hear whether he would be able to play in the upcoming Sunshine Double in the United States.

If not, the Serb will turn his attention to the Monte-Carlo Masters, at which point he admitted that he will take some time off to prepare for the clay swing. With his biggest priority of the year - winning the Australian Open - out of the way, the World No. 1 stated that any other title would be considered a bonus for him and that he was simply going to focus on the "next challenge" in the meantime.

"I don't know what 'the rest' is. I'm still waiting for the news from America. If there's no America, I guess I'll play clay. Monte-Carlo is probably the next tournament. If that's the case, I'll take some time off, I'll prepare. Clay, as we've said, is the most demanding surface. It takes time more than any other surface to prepare for."

"Look, the year is long. I started off the year in a best possible way, winning many matches in a row, winning Australian Open. That's the one that I looked for the most. That was the priority in this part of the year. Of course, any other tournament win is a bonus. I will always give everything I possibly can to play my best tennis in every tournament. Yeah, look forward to the next challenge," Djokovic said.

The clay season brings with it its own challenges, the formemost of which is Rafael Nadal. While the Spaniard is yet to hit his stride this season, he has been a beast on clay for almost two decades, winning the French Open a record 14 times -- 12 times more than Djokovic.

When probed if that was what the Serb meant as the next challenge, beating Nadal on clay, the 22-time Grand Slam champion made it sound like it was, adding that he has not written off the possibility.

"If it's not a possibility, my friend, I wouldn't be playing tennis," he said.

"I have family in good and bad times" - Novak Djokovic

Novak Djokovic at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis

Novak Djokovic also touched upon the importance of his family during the press conference, hailing them for being by his side through thick and thin. The 35-year-old revealed that they were an important part of why he kept on playing, so that he could give them a "good feeling" when they came to watch him compete.

I have family in good and bad times. But this is something that is related to my profession, to tennis, to what I do. Try to do it in the best possible way and bring also some good feelings to the people that watch me play. I really want to keep on playing. I'm looking forward for the challenges to come," he said.