United Cup preview: Italy and Czechia, for a place in the semifinals | ATP Tour

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United Cup preview: Italy and Czechia, for a place in the semifinals

They will play this Friday in Sydney

January 02, 2025

A few days ago, after the Italian team finished its trip to the quarterfinals of the United Cup, journalists asked the members who they would prefer to play against. The two potential options were Great Britain and Australia.

“I don’t like to say it,” Jasmine Paolini said. “I also don’t like to think which team or which opponent will be better. When you think one is better, you play against him or her and you lose.”

It turns out that, after a peculiarity was fulfilled in the qualifying scenarios, Italy became a rival of the Czech Republic, a tie to be played on Friday in Sydney.

United Cup: Results | Order of play

Poland were supposed to face Sydney’s second-best team, but that was Czechia, whom they beat in Group B. Under United Cup rules, teams in the same group cannot meet again until the final. So Great Britain and Czechia exchanged positions, and on Thursday the match between Poland and Great Britain was played (won by Poland) and on Friday there will be the interesting duel between Italy and Czechia.

The winner will advance to Saturday’s semifinals at Ken Rosewall Arena against the United States. Kazakhstan (3-0) will face Poland (3-0) in the other match of the finals.

Italy (2-0 group stage record) vs Chequia (1-1 group stage record)

Start Time: (5:30 p.m. local time, 1:30 a.m. ET)

Jasmine Paolini (ITA) vs Karolina Muchova (CZE)
Flavio Cobolli (ITA) vs Tomas Machac (CZE)
Sara Errani (ITA) / Andrea Vavassori (ITA) vs Karolina Muchova (CZE) / Tomas Machac (CZE)

Paolini is the world No. 4, but she faces a tremendous opponent in Karolina Muchova, who has won all four of their previous meetings. Flavio Cobolli and Tomas Machac will face each other for the first time. Cobolli had a 35-27 record in 2024, while Machac had a 33-23 record.

If it comes to mixed doubles, Italy might have the advantage. Sara Errani and Andrea Vavassori have a 2-0 record, after beating France and Switzerland in straight sets. Muchova and Machac have a 1-1 record after losing to Iga Swiatek and Hubert Hurkacz of Poland.