<p>The 19-year-old's first appearance at Roland Garros ‌ended with a 7-6, 6-1, 6-3 defeat by the ‌German second seed, but Jodar said the experience had reinforced his ‌belief that he belongs among the game's top players.</p><p><strong>"If you ‌want to compete against the best players in the world, you have to keep your level all the time the same,"</strong> Jodar ‌told reporters.</p><p><strong>"You cannot have a lot of downs ⁠during the matches, especially ‌when you are playing a five-set match."</strong></p><p>Jodar emerged as one of the ​surprise stories of the tournament, joining Brazilian teenager Joao Fonseca in a quarter-final lineup that highlighted the ​sport's growing wave of young talent.</p><p><strong>"What I learned about me is that I can compete against anyone," </strong>he said.</p><p><strong>"But I ⁠still have to improve ​a lot of things that these matches will help me to improve."</strong></p><p>The turning point against Zverev came in the opening set, when Jodar failed to convert a chance to serve out ‌the set before the world number three took control of the match.</p><p>"He played better than me in those points," Jodar said. "He deserved to win the first set and then the next two."</p><p>Despite the defeat, Jodar said he would leave Paris with valuable lessons.</p><p><strong>"A lot of experience in this first French Open for me," </strong>he said. <strong>"I take all the matches that I've played, and this gives me a lot of learning ‌to keep improving."</strong></p>