Love at First Serve! US Open Launches Dating Show

Dating shows can come out of nowhere. 

MTV’s “The Challenge” and CBS’s “Survivor” may both be competition series but, more often than not, showmances take up a lot of real estate. The first season of Netflix’s “The Circle” – as well as the rest of the series – devolved into the cast falling in love. Even “The Great British Bake Off” went down the dating show route.

No matter how you shake it, viewers can’t escape dating elements of reality shows. 

Now, the US Open is set to feature a dating show of its own.

Love, All

Tennis meets Tinder as the United States Tennis Association and Fresh Tape Media are coming together in order to create “Game, Set, Matchmaker” – a dating series set around the US Open tournament.

Solidcore instructor and four times Olympic gold medalist Ilana Sedaka (referred to as “The Champion” in the show) will be the target of affection for a number of potential suitors. This includes influencers, tennis fans and online personalities.

Viewers can find the show on the US Open’s official YouTube channel. Episodes will more or less be uploaded in real time as the tournament kicks off on August 24. The final episode will be up at the time of the women’s final.

Let and Not Net

“I’ve been going to the US Open since I was little, and it’s honestly one of the best sporting events in the world—so to be stepping into something this fun, flirty, and personal right in the middle of it is kind of surreal,” Sedaka told The Hollywood Reporter.

“I’ve actually gone on a few dates at the Open before, but this time, I get to explore real connection with seven amazing guys and actually choose what feels right for me. I’m in a place where I know what I want, and I’m not afraid to take my time and see who’s really showing up.”

Creative director for Fresh Tape Media Alana Glenn Moritz added “The US Open is more than a tournament; it’s a cultural stage. We built this series to capture that energy in its purest form. It’s unexpected, it’s current, and it taps into the drama and connection that makes this event unlike anything else.”