Derby junior Sam Ferguson will return from Paris with "a lot of confidence" after appearing at his first Grand Slam tournament.
The 12-year-old said he felt he could have won the Longines Future Tennis Aces junior tournament – or at least reached the final – but vowed to work harder on his return to the UK.
He was among 16 players invited to take part in the competition, which took place at Roland Garros, and reached the semi-finals before being knocked out.
On Saturday, he watched Marko Osmakcic, of Switzerland, and Russian Artem Dubrivny play each other in the final, which the Swiss youngster won 4-1, 1-4, 1-0 (10-6).
He was also among the hundreds who watched the pair play in a doubles exhibition match with former Grand Slam winners Andre Agassi and Jim Courier.
Ferguson, the under-12 British number one, said he had loved every minute of his experience.
He said: "I can take a lot of confidence from this because, out of 16 players, I felt I was among the top four.
"It's obviously been a really good experience because it's a Grand Slam and it comes with the atmosphere and all those people watching.
"It was different to what I expected because the French Open was bigger than I thought and I didn't realise there were so many people there.
"But the atmosphere was exactly like I thought it would be and I'm really pleased I was able to take part.
"I think I will look differently at Roland Garros when I watch it next year and compare it to when I was here."
Ferguson, of Spondon, started the tournament strongly with two straight-sets wins, beating Shaheed Alam, of Singapore, and American Michael Chen Zhao in the first rounds.
But the Derbyshire boys' player of the year said he could not find his rhythm against Osmakcic, who he faced in the semi-final, and lost 5-3, 5-3.
Throughout the tournament, Ferguson was approached by journalists from all over the world who had come to report on the event.
He said: "I think there was more pressure on this tournament than in most competitions I play.
"There were certainly more people watching and lots of photographers, television cameras and people who wanted to talk to me.
"But I didn't really let it affect me if I could.
"It doesn't matter what circumstances you are in, you try to work as hard as you can and do the same stuff.
"There is a different feeling playing at Roland Garros and it is sometimes harder to keep your concentration but, in some ways, it can also make you play better as well."
Among the highlights of the experience for Ferguson was joining the other competitors in the stands of court Philippe Chatrier to watch the women's final.
It was China's Li Na who won the event, beating defending champion Francesca Schiavone 6-4, 7-6 (7-0) to win her first major.
At the Longines tournament final, Ferguson also got to meet Agassi and Courier, who handed out awards to the finalists after completing the exhibition match.
Ferguson, whose next tournament is in Latvia, said: "We had quite good seats for the final and could see quite a lot. It was a really good match and very close.
"Na Li did really well and hit lots of winners in the first set.
"In the second, Schiavone did come back a bit and made her work harder for the points.
"When I watch tennis, I like looking at what players do well and what I can use myself to work on.
"I also do the same when I pick out the things they need to work on.
"But it would definitely be my dream to play on that court and I think I could do that.
"It was also really good meeting Agassi and Courier. I've met a few big players before and these two were really friendly and happy to talk to you.
"They were also really funny to watch in the exhibition match, which was a good event."
Swiss watchmaker Longines held the three-day junior tournament to seek out future tennis stars, with players from afar as Australia, China and Mexico competing.
Ferguson, who trains under the MyTennis programme at Loughborough University, said he was pleased with how he performed against the best players of his age group in the world.
He said: "I think I could have won or got to the final. It was disappointing that I didn't but it is confidencebuilding.
"I just need to go back to Loughborough and work hard because it only came down to a few points. But I will also go home with a lot of good memories."
Ferguson's dad, Graeme, who accompanied him to Paris, said the trip had broadened his son's horizons.
He said: "It was nice for him to see players from all over the world.
"I think he was slightly disappointed he didn't reach the final but he will learn from it and, overall, he played some really good tennis and I'm very proud of him."