Paris (AFP) - Carlos Alcaraz said on Tuesday he "has the confidence" to win a Grand Slam tournament soon despite his French Open quarter-final defeat by Alexander Zverev.
The 19-year-old Spaniard slipped to a 6-4, 6-4, 4-6, 7-6 (9/7) loss to the German third seed as he was beaten for just the second time this season on clay.
He had been hoping to become the first teenage winner of a men's major title since Rafael Nadal in Paris in 2005.
"I have to take the lesson.I mean, I have to improve to the next Grand Slam or next matches," said Alcaraz.
"But I would say I'm not far away to reach a semi-final or be able to win a Grand Slam.
"Just take the lesson, in these kind of matches.I would say I have the level, I have the confidence to win a Grand Slam or pass through to the semi-final next time."
Alcaraz has risen to sixth in the ATP rankings this season by winning a tour-high four titles, including two Masters 1,000 trophies.
He paid for a slow start against Zverev as he made 32 unforced errors across the first two sets, but said he was "proud" after threatening a dramatic comeback.
"I would say I finished the match playing better," added Alcaraz.
"I leave the court, leave the tournament with the head very high.I fight until the last ball.I fought until the last second of the match, and I'm proud of it."
Grand Slam duck
Zverev said he "is at the stage where he wants to win" a first Slam title.
The 25-year-old has lost three of his previous four Grand Slam last-four matches and was beaten by Dominic Thiem in the 2020 US Open final.
"I said a lot of times I'm not 21 years old anymore...I'm at the stage where I want to win," said Zverev, who has won 19 titles on the ATP Tour.
"I'm at the stage where I'm supposed to win, as well."
Zverev, who saved a match point against Argentina's Sebastian Baez in the second round, will face either reigning champion Novak Djokovic or Nadal on Friday for a place in the final.
"Next I have either the world number one or the 13-time champion here, so it's not getting any easier," he added, before going on to praise his vanquished opponent.
"He's one of the best players in the world right now.I knew I'd have to be at my best from the very first point and not let him get ahead and gain confidence."
