Did Carlos Alcaraz want to play Rafael Nadal in the first round? "No!" Neither did Alexander Zverev

PARIS—A tenet of strong writing is the simple, declarative sentence. Get in and get out. State what needs to be said. Don't confuse the reader.

Carlos Alcaraz brought that principle to the press room Friday. Speaking, rather than writing, the 21-year-old didn't mince words in response to my question of whether some part of him wanted to play Rafael Nadal in the first round of Roland Garros—an "honor" that instead went to Alexander Zverev.

No. (Smiling.) Honestly, no. Carlos Alcaraz

There was no mulling over the possibility, or second-guessing the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that wasn't.

"When I saw that it was 50 percent chances that I could play against Rafa," Alcaraz said, "it...Thanks."

Laughter ensued.

Laughter of the incredulous variety was in large supply during Zverev's presser, when he was asked about the stunning collision.

"So ideally, I would have liked to play him in the later stage of the tournament, but it is how it is now," Zverev said. "He is unseeded this year. I am seeded. You know, it's a tough draw, but it's a tough draw for both of us."

Zverev found out about the draw from his brother, Mischa, on Thursday after hitting with Andrey Rublev.

"I actually thought he's joking in the beginning," Zverev said. "I think both of us, if we would have a choice, we would choose differently, for sure."

It will be no laughing matter on Monday or Tuesday—Zverev did say "We'll see how it goes on Monday," for what it's worth—when they reprise their 2022 semifinal, a truncated classic that saw the Spaniard lead 7-6 (8), 6-6 before injury befell the German.

"I mean, obviously, to be very honest, I wanted to play Rafa again in my career, in his career," said Zverev, "because I didn't want my last memory of me playing against Rafa to be me leaving the court on a wheelchair."

Although Nadal comes into the match far from the near-lock he traditionally has been on the terre battue, Zverev obviously won't take the 37-year-old lightly. The 14-time tournament champion—already enshrined at Roland Garros with a statue—will have the crowd firmly on his side in what could perhaps be Nadal's French farewell.

"You are playing the statue," Zverev said. "I mean, you're not playing the statue, you're playing the actual person. But you are playing Rafa Nadal.

"For me, in my mind, I'm going to play peak Rafa Nadal."