ROLAND GARROS

June 2, 2026

Rafael Jodar

Press Conference

A. ZVEREV/R. Jodar

7-6, 6-1, 6-3

THE MODERATOR: Rafa, bad luck today, but how do you look back at these two weeks and your first Roland Garros with a quarterfinal finish?

RAFAEL JODAR: Yeah, a lot of experience in this first French Open for me. I take all the matches that I've played, and yeah, this gives me a lot of learning to keep improving in the training weeks.

THE MODERATOR: Questions.

Q. I'm interested being on the central court where Rafa Nadal won a lot of titles, and now a new documentary was presented on Netflix. Have you had time to watch it during these days, or you were focused mostly on the tennis, on yourself?

RAFAEL JODAR: No, I haven't had time yet to watch the documentary. In the next few days I'll maybe have some more free time. I'll try to watch it.

Q. What are some of the things you learned both about the game at this level during this tournament, and what did you learn about yourself as a tennis player?

RAFAEL JODAR: Well, I mean, all these matches helped me to realize that if you want to compete against the best players in the world, you have to keep your level all the time the same. You cannot have a lot of downs during the matches, especially when you are playing a five-set match.

What I learned about me is that I can compete against anyone, but I still, you know, have to improve a lot of things that these matches will help me to improve those things.

Yeah, that's what I learned from me and from the other players, as well.

Q. Something slipped in the match in the first set for you, because you led 5-2 or 5-3, I guess, and you served for the set. From that moment when you lost your serve, I mean, it was mostly Sascha's match. How did you live this period with I guess also ten points in a row lost, or something like this? Yeah, how did you live this crucial moment of the match?

RAFAEL JODAR: Yeah, it was an important moment in the first set. Yeah, I didn't play very well those points. He played better than me those points, and he deserved to win the first set and then the next two.

Q. How are you feeling about playing on the grass?

RAFAEL JODAR: Well, I haven't had time to think about that topic yet. So, yeah, in the next few days I'll take some days off to recover well from this week and to get ready for the grass.

Yeah, I haven't played a lot, so I'll give my best, and I'll try to get some training days in on the grass to get ready for the tournaments.

Q. Considering what Sascha showed today, what he showed since the beginning of the tournament, is he for you the favorite to lift the trophy?

RAFAEL JODAR: I mean, yes. He has to win two more matches, so yeah, all the players that are in the semifinals on Friday have the same chances. If they are in semifinals, it's because they have done great results.

I wish them all the best, and the best player who plays in the weekend will win the title.

Q. Just to follow-up on this, can you describe his main weapon, and did you feel sometimes that you were too far from the ball, he was hitting too hard?

RAFAEL JODAR: I mean, he's a great player. He does everything very well. He has a lot of experience. He has been in these kind of stadiums a lot of years, and I think that's a key that's very important to face the important and the pressure moments in the match.

Yeah, overall, he does everything very good. If one day I want to be in that level, I'm not worried that I have to work hard.

Q. What's the whole experience been like for you to be at a Grand Slam going into a second week with you and your dad? You know, you're not used to this. How has it all been behind the scenes?

RAFAEL JODAR: It was a great week. You know, playing a lot of matches in my first time in Paris. So, yeah, happy with the week and how the clay season went for me.

Yeah, now time to get my body ready for the grass season and, yeah, analyze the things that I can improve for the next matches.