Latest news with #Sedaka
Time of India
17 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Who is Ilana Sedaka? The face behind US Open's new reality TV dating show ‘Game, Set, Matchmaker'
Ilana Sedaka, a former champion figure skater and current Pilates instructor, is set to star in the US Open's new reality dating show, 'Game, Set, Matchmaker.' Filmed at the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, the eight-part YouTube series will feature Sedaka dating seven male contestants, blending playful games with tours of the iconic venue. Ilana Sedaka, the star of Game, Set, Matchmaker, is a former champion figure skater who began skating at the age of just 4, finding success early in her athletic career. (Image Credit: Instagram/Ilana Sedaka) Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Who is Ilana Sedaka? Rising star Ilana Sedaka has made his foray into the world of romance as she joins the US Open 's upcoming reality TV dating show - Game, Set, Matchmaker - as the leading lady. Sedaka, known for her charm and athleticism, is expected to be a standout presence as she searches for her perfect match. With the backdrop of one of tennis's biggest events, the show promises drama, laughter, and maybe even a grand slam in US Open, the year's final Grand Slam, is adding a unique twist to its festivities with a reality TV dating show, which will be filmed at the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Queens, New eight-part YouTube series will star 24-year-old New York native Sedaka as the 'tennis-savvy bachelorette'. Over the course of the show, Sedaka will be paired with seven male contestants, going on dates that mix playful games with tours of the iconic tennis contestants competing for Sedaka's attention on 'Game, Set, Matchmaker' will reportedly include a mix of influencers, devoted tennis enthusiasts, and social media the identities of the seven men have yet to be revealed, the series promises a diverse lineup of personalities aiming to impress the 24-year-old."The US Open has always been one of the most iconic sporting events in the country, and growing up just 30 minutes from Arthur Ashe Stadium , it was something I looked forward to every summer," Sedaka said in a media statement."I'm coming in open to connection, ready to compete, and excited to be part of something bigger. My hope is to bring a little joy, a little chaos, and a whole lot of realness to the court,' Sedaka episode will see one contestant eliminated. Filmed a week before the US Open, it will stream throughout the August 24-September 7 the star of Game, Set, Matchmaker, is a former champion figure skater who began skating at the age of just 4, finding success early in her athletic based in Miami, she has transitioned into a career as a Pilates instructor while continuing to explore opportunities in has appeared in several television projects, including Celebrity Ghost Series and Father's Day, showcasing her versatility beyond the skating blend of competitive spirit, on-screen experience, and athletic discipline makes her a compelling lead for the US Open's unique reality dating series set against a world-class tennis backdrop.
Hindustan Times
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Hindustan Times
‘Game, Set, Matchmaker': US Open presents tennis-themed reality dating show, ex-skating champ to be matched with 7 men
Last week saw the United States Tennis Association make an unusual announcement! It was revealed that the US Open would be entering the world of reality show dating. The announcement caught everyone's attention and also went viral on social media. The US Open has launched a new dating reality show. In an official statement, Jonathan Zipper, senior director of social media at the USTA, said, 'We're excited to break new ground with 'Game, Set, Matchmaker,' at the US Open and across our channels this year. It's the perfect time for us to launch a fun, social-forward concept that meets the moment, engaging fans at the intersection of tennis, pop culture and entertainment.' What is 'Game, Set, Matchmaker' about? The reality series will take place at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center and will follow a bachelorette tennis player on her quest to find love. The player at the center of the series is Ilana Sedaka, a 24-year-old former skating champion, tennis fan and pilates teacher, who was born and raised in Long Island and now lives in Miami. Sedaka will be matched with seven men and will go on dates. The dates will also include her playing games and exploring the tennis center. Meanwhile, a contestant will be sent home at the end of each episode. In the official press release, Sedaka said, 'The US Open has always been one of the most iconic sporting events in the country, and growing up just 30 minutes from Arthur Ashe Stadium, it was something I looked forward to every summer.' 'To now be stepping into this experience at such a legendary venue feels surreal and incredibly special. 'I'm coming in open to connection, ready to compete, and excited to be part of something bigger. My hope is to bring a little joy, a little chaos, and a whole lot of realness to the court,' she further added. The contestants will consist of influencers, social personalities, and tennis superfans.
Straits Times
05-08-2025
- Entertainment
- Straits Times
‘Game, set, matchmaker'? The US Open gets into the dating game
People crowding the Billie Jean King National Tennis Centre during the US Open semi-finals in New York on Sept 12, 2024. – Last week, the United States Tennis Association (USTA) made an unexpected announcement. The US Open, one of the sport's four Grand Slam tournaments, will be inserting itself in the saturated world of reality-show dating. The announcement raised a few eyebrows and set off widespread online chatter that is best encapsulated on Instagram by professional tennis player and US Open contender Donna Vekic, who said: 'Wait what?' According to a statement from the USTA, the tournament will host its own reality series, set at the Billie Jean King National Tennis Centre in Queens. The eight-episode series, called 'Game, Set, Matchmaker,' will be filmed the week before the event begins in late August. It will air on YouTube during the tournament. The bachelorette at the centre of the series is Ilana Sedaka, a 'tennis-savvy' 24-year-old former figure-skating champion and Pilates teacher, who was born and raised in Long Island and now lives in Miami. She will be matched with seven men, and will go on dates that will include playing games and exploring the tennis centre. A contestant will be sent home at the end of each episode. 'My hope is to bring a little joy, a little chaos and a whole lot of realness to the court,' Sedaka said in a news release. The USTA did not divulge how Sedaka was chosen or share any details on the male contestants. The decision to film a dating show – and the sponsorships it drew from Dobel Tequila and Moet & Chandon – illustrates that, at the end of the day, 'sports is a business,' said Marsha-Gaye Knight, an assistant professor at the Preston Robert Tisch Institute for Global Sport at New York University. Knight added that 'sport and culture are very intertwined,' whether that's tennis, basketball or football. 'Let's be honest, a lot of people watch tennis because Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce are there,' she said. Basketball star Stephen Curry, actress Tina Fey and Vogue's global editorial director, Anna Wintour, all attended the 2024 US Open. The other Grand Slams, which are held in London, Paris and Melbourne, Australia, consistently draw their own star-studded audiences, too. And celebrity fashion choices at the games become social media catnip for their fans, Knight said. At a moment when shows like the 'Love Island' franchises, 'The Bachelor' and 'Love Is Blind' seem to have overtaken cultural conversation, putting on a dating show is an attempt by the USTA to bolster the sport's cultural cachet beyond tennis purists. 'We are trying to attract an entirely new audience, reaching fans at the intersection of tennis, pop culture and entertainment,' a spokesperson for the association said in an e-mailed statement. The USTA has also been trying to boost participation in tennis. According to research conducted by the association, 1 in 12 Americans – about 26 million people – played tennis in 2024, which is the highest it has been in five years. That makes it among the most popular sports in the United States; recent research found that 28 million Americans play basketball and just over 15 million play baseball. Despite that level of participation, professional tennis still draws a far smaller viewing audience than football and basketball in the United States, according to a recent market research report , and Generation Z, Knight added, simply is not watching sports on television as much as previous generations . 'The US Open realises that for them to appeal to new audiences and tap into new sectors, they have to go where audiences are,' Knight said. 'Audiences are no longer chasing sports; we have to now chase our audiences.' NYTIMES
