What did the US Open ceremony interviewer mean when she said to Nadal "they don't get any easier"?

[Jokervich]

This is an ambiguous phrase and could mean one of 2 things:

1. It could mean each tournament win gets more and more difficult

Or

2. It could mean this particular tournament was his easiest to win, because he had a joke draw


I'm sure she meant the 1st one, but perhaps she was taking a subtle dig at his easy draw? What do you reckon? When I heard her say it, I saw Nadal was slightly taken aback and looked a little offended, although he laughed it off. I think he thought she meant the 2nd one (Nadal is not a native English speaker, so you can understand why he might think that. Maybe he also thought she was playing to the Federer-biased crowd?).

 

[Gazelle]

You could see Nadal having a small laugh: "yeah right.."

But normally that sentence means the first option you posted. And it's clear that's what that woman meant.

 

[MasterZeb]

I think it's definitely her saying they get harder and harder. No way would she be foolish enough to say that in front of millions and the very man himself. Plus I doubt she is a hardcore enough fan to really care about draws etc. Just a cliche question/ joke you expect a reporter/ interviewer to say.

 

[DRII]

#1 obviously!

 

[imonfire]

She had that phrase prepared and went with it despite the match and tournament not helping its case. She meant no harm, but could have been better prepared for the post-match interview.

 

[JohnnyMac Fan!]

This is an ambiguous phrase and could mean one of 2 things:

1. It could mean each tournament win gets more and more difficult

Or

2. It could mean this particular tournament was his easiest to win, because he had a joke draw


I'm sure she meant the 1st one, but perhaps she was taking a subtle dig at his easy draw? What do you reckon? When I heard her say it, I saw Nadal was slightly taken aback and looked a little offended, although he laughed it off. I think he thought she meant the 2nd one (Nadal is not a native English speaker, so you can understand why he might think that. Maybe he also thought she was playing to the Federer-biased crowd?).

He is older, and there are new comers.

 

[tennisenthusiast]

#2 obviously.

 

[Sentinel]

Of course, she meant we handed it to you on a plate which the silly AO and WO guys did not do.

j/k.

 

[Rafa24]

I get sick of hearing about his "easy draw" The draw wasn't easy. He should have played Berdych, Dimitrov, Fed/Delpo just to make the final. Wasn't his fault the other good players lost and he beat the players who beat them.

 

[metsman]

I get sick of hearing about his "easy draw" The draw wasn't easy. He should have played Berdych, Dimitrov, Fed/Delpo just to make the final. Wasn't his fault the other good players lost and he beat the players who beat them.

Just as Fed was scheduled to play Nadal in most of his cupcake 04-07 wins. What happened?

 

[every7]

Need to see the video to assess the vocal tone of the interviewers and also get further context before making a comment either way.

Who was doing the interview? Pam Shriver or Chris Evert? I never usually watch the trophy presentations interview because they usually have bad interviews.

I like the press conferences after, though.

 

[Bender]

Just as Fed was scheduled to play Nadal in most of his cupcake 04-07 wins. What happened?

If we insist that Fed's draws in 04-07 were cupcake draws, then it applies both ways.

Honestly that era was stronger than this current one. Fedal should have no business winning slams at their respective ages, and yet here we are.

 

[Rafa24]

Just as Fed was scheduled to play Nadal in most of his cupcake 04-07 wins. What happened?

04? LOL Nadal was 18 in 2004. Fed didn't win his first USO until he was 23. Funny how you fed fans always try and bring that crap up. Bull was the youngest ever to complete the career grand slam at 24. He also has career golden slam. something fed doesn't have.

 

[junior74]

I get sick of hearing about his "easy draw" The draw wasn't easy. He should have played Berdych, Dimitrov, Fed/Delpo just to make the final. Wasn't his fault the other good players lost and he beat the players who beat them.

Path is a better word than draw. It doesn't matter who you could have met.

A path indeed doesn't get any easier than this

 

[Rafa24]

Path is a better word than draw. It doesn't matter who you could have met.

A path indeed doesn't get any easier than this

path is a much better word. delpo took out two time slam winner to make the final. Feds path to wimbledon 2017 wasn't much different. Raonic? Injured. DImitrov? Shell of his former self from the beginning of the year until cincy and then right back to shell. Berd man? Two tie breaks but has been garbage. Cilic? Hurt.

Fed had a cupcake path to the trophy.

 

[Bluefan75]

Why can't they just let the players give a speech? Australia does it right. Wimbledon, no. US Open, no. Just let the players give a speech. No one cares about the person asking the questions anyway.

 

[VolleyHelena]

Didn't see it but probably #2 because slams don't come easy at 31

 

[sbengte]

Didn't see it but probably #2 because slams don't come easy at 31

Unless you're the LOAT / draw GOAT

 

[bitcoinoperated]

Why can't they just let the players give a speech? Australia does it right. Wimbledon, no. US Open, no. Just let the players give a speech. No one cares about the person asking the questions anyway.

Them trying to make out Kevin Anderson was somehow an American was stupid as hell ("you are an All-American") along with trying to get them to say the crowd (which they described as "the best tennis fans in the world" just lol) were important in their victory.

The whole thing is always cringe at the USO. I guess that is just how they do sports over there.

 

[Tshooter]

...The whole thing is always cringe at the USO. I guess that is just how they do sports over there.

+1 (extra cringy the year Delpo won and they shut him down when he wanted to speak a few words in Spanish. Of course after that episode now they encourage it.)

I don't even like the part where I have to drop my pants and bend over so they can kiss it but it's part of the whole routine with the crowd so I play my part.

Now to their defense, Kevin is an "All-American." She was I assume provided his background and alluding to it.

From his ATP Bio:

"Played at University of Illinois for 3 seasons (2005-07). Won 2006 NCAA doubles title (w/Ryan Rowe). Reached 2007 NCAA singles semi-finals and doubles final. Also reached 2007 team final. Earned All-American honours all 3 years."

Given his record at Illinois as an "All-American" it's hardly a crazy line to say after he was USO runner-up: "you are an All-American."

As far as kissing the crowds butt. It's pretty standard behavior at many sporting events and players do it to some extent as well. It doesn't really mean anything. I wouldn't get insulted. I'm sure you'd be part of a great crowd too.

MAGA !

 

[boredone3456]

The meaning of the phrase was that at his age and after he has won as many majors as he has, that it is still never easy to win a major and still takes a lot of effort to do so even for a seasoned pro like Rafa. Any other meaning you may want to take is based on sniping and personal bias.

 

[joy-z]

I think it was used in the cliched sense, but in this case the cliche actually doesn't apply because it LITERALLY could not have been easier for Nadal.