In addition to a paycheck and a trophy, Frances Tiafoe–who triumphed at the Sarasota Open this past Sunday–won a prize that would not have made sense when the week began. But it made plenty of sense, perhaps even to many people who don’t even follow tennis but are suddenly aware of this now-famous Challenger event, based on what transpired during first-round action.
Tiafoe was presented with an “It can’t be that good” t-shirt following his 6-3, 6-4 victory over Tennys Sandgren in the final.
The slogan dates back to Tiafoe’s opener against Mitchell Krueger, which was interrupted by a couple having unmistakably loud sex in a nearby apartment. Krueger blasted a ball in the direction of the love-making sounds, after which Tiafoe shouted, “It can’t be that good!”
Unsurprisingly, the incident has blown up on the internet. Video–of the players’ reactions; not of the sex–has been referenced on the likes of Deadspin, “The Howard Stern Show,” and “Jimmy Kimmel Live.” The tournament website got around six million hits and one video of the incident has more than five million views.
The Sarasota Open and Fine Designs soon designed a t-shirt and began giving fans the option to add Tiafoe’s quote to any piece of apparel they bought at the tournament.
“The opportunity showed up, and why not take the opportunity,” said Paul Stefoglo, an employee of Fine Designs who ran the company’s sales tent in Sarasota.
i need one
Agreed. Would live one. Saw it on Mike C’s twitter.