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."