NEW YORK – Participants at the US Open describe doubles play as akin to dating: It’s about choosing a partner, assessing the chemistry, and figuring out if they can stick together for the long haul or part ways – only to possibly reunite later. The week at Flushing Meadows thus resembles a matchmaking service, with players attempting to find the perfect partner to defeat the competition and bring home the trophy.

Taylor Townsend, half of the reigning Wimbledon champion pair in women’s doubles, is not surprised to receive messages from players eager to pair up with her. Townsend notes that her left-handed play, strength, and net game make her an attractive partner. “There are definitely people knocking on my door,” she says. However, Townsend is already in a committed partnership with Katerina Siniakova, with whom she played together in London. They hope to qualify for the WTA Finals, the end-of-season event featuring the eight best teams.

For many players, doubles competition is an opportunity to discover how well they can collaborate. Bethanie Mattek-Sands, who has won nine Grand Slam titles in women’s singles and mixed doubles, shares, “I have found partners the day before registration.” It is not unusual for her to ask others, “You don’t have a partner, should we team up?” This happened last year for Anna Danilina and Harri Heliovaara, who paired just before the registration deadline and ended up winning the mixed doubles trophy.

Many teams, however, prefer to avoid this last-minute scramble. Australian players Jordan Thompson and Max Purcell have now competed in six tournaments in a row. “We’re like a married couple at this point,” notes Purcell. Sara Errani also values stability, having won a career Grand Slam in doubles with Roberta Vinci and now playing with Jasmine Paolini, with whom she also won gold at the Paris Olympics.

Even when teams appear to be a perfect match, it doesn’t always last. Siniakova and Barbora Krejcikova split last year after achieving a career Grand Slam and an Olympic gold medal together. Nevertheless, Siniakova has continued to excel, joining forces with Coco Gauff to win the French Open. “Usually, I am paired for the entire year with the same partner, as I want to maintain consistency and reach the latter stages of tournaments,” said Siniakova.

In mixed doubles, Siniakova and Tomas Machac create even more intrigue for the media. Their affectionate celebration after winning gold in Paris fueled speculation on social media about whether they were an item, but they are not competing together at Flushing Meadows. “Maybe we’ll play mixed next time, but not this time,” Machac said.

Mattek-Sands is currently playing with Sofia Kenin, and they won their opening match in New York. At 39 years old and having started her career in 2005, Mattek-Sands is well aware that often, there are too many weeks when both members of a team cannot participate. “During those times, players send out ‘feelers’: ‘Hey, if you’re available, let me know,’” she explains.

Mixed doubles are only played at the four Grand Slam tournaments and the Olympics, and Mattek-Sands is playing with her fourth mixed partner this year. “It’s like dancing when the lights come on and a slow song starts. You ask, ‘Do you want to play? What’s your ranking?’” she says. For Heliovaara and Danilina, ranking also plays an important role since they were unable to team up in the first three majors of the year.

But like a romantic story that gets saved at the last moment, Heliovaara made his way back to the current 11th position following his Wimbledon title with Henry Patten. Together with Danilina, who is ranked 48th, they managed to qualify for New York. “Maybe this is the secret to our relationship,” he jokes. “We only see each other at the US Open, once a year.”

With doubles players navigating a complex web of partnerships, it is clear that each tournament presents new opportunities and challenges in the often dramatic world of tennis.