17 Across

NYT Daily • August 14, 2025

["I'll take 'Tennis' for $200, Ken"] It means nothing

Answer:

WHATISLOVE

Hint:

Think of Alex Trebek’s iconic phrasing paired with a famous phrase about scoring zero in this sport.

Explanation:

This clue mimics the phrasing of Jeopardy! where contestants respond in the form of a question, starting with "What is..." The quote references Ken Jennings, a famous Jeopardy! champion, while "It means nothing" hints at the tennis term "love" (meaning zero). Combining the Jeopardy! format with the tennis pun gives "WHATISLOVE."

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