SYDNEY/WASHINGTON, January 3, 2025 (by Michael Dickens)
Throughout the United Cup, Karolina Muchova and Tomas Machac have provided a formidable one-two punch for Team Czechia. Together, they stunned Italy and clinched their quarterfinal tie Thursday evening by winning both singles points – each in straight sets – en route to a 2-1 victory inside Ken Rosewall Arena in Sydney.
The tie victory by the Czechs (2-1) advanced them into Saturday’s semifinal round against 2023 United Cup champion and this year’s top-seeded team the United States (3-0). Kazakhstan (3-0) will face Poland (3-0) in the other semifinal tie.
THIS IT WHAT IT MEANS #UnitedCup pic.twitter.com/kecYR1eDcL
— United Cup (@UnitedCupTennis) January 3, 2025
“I think today was [an] unbelievable day for the Czech flag,” Machac said during his team’s post-match news conference. “I saw Karolina before me. She was playing unbelievable. So, I said, ‘Why not me?'”
Machac broke into a smile as he spoke. The 24-year-old from Beroun, Czechia, had just finished playing one of the best matches of his career.
“So, I was just trying to play good as her, and I think I was playing great also, and we managed to win today in singles,” he continued. “I was listening to Karolina’s advice: ‘We are not going for mixed doubles today. Just singles today.'”
Muchova added: “We both kept focused and played good, hold[ing] our serves. We brought the good tennis.”
FLYING THROUGH TO THE SEMIS #UnitedCup pic.twitter.com/oTai2MGM8O
— United Cup (@UnitedCupTennis) January 3, 2025
As Machac and Muchova met with the media, a mixed doubles match for pride was on court nearby, which was won by Italy’s Sara Errani and Andrea Vavassori over Gabriela Knutson and Patrik Rikl of Czechia, 7-5, 3-6, 10-4.
However, it was the physicality imposed earlier by Muchova and Machac that lifted Czechia to greater heights.
First the 22nd-ranked Muchova plowed through World No. 4 Jasmine Paolini, winning 6-2, 6-2 in an hour and 42 minutes. It was her fifth straight victory over the diminutive Italian. Muchova’s attacking game, in which she outpointed Paolini 79-61, was on display throughout. She won 50 percent of her return points, broke Paolini’s serve four times in nine opportunities, and saved all 10 break points she faced.
Muchova has lost only one set during their five career meetings and Friday’s match mirrored their previous meeting, in which she defeated Paolini 6-3, 6-1 in the fourth round of the 2024 US Open.
This girl is on FIREEEEE @karomuchova7 gets the win for Team Czechia after defeating Paolini in straight sets 6-2,6-2! #UnitedCup pic.twitter.com/nPLLOK8zKR
— United Cup (@UnitedCupTennis) January 3, 2025
“I really wanted to bring a point to the team so I was trying to stay focused,” Muchova, 28, a native of Olomouc, said during her on-court interview. “Jasmine is an unbelievable player. It was a really tough match. I knew I had to go until the end. She had many break chances. I think I served well. I’m really happy I made it.”
Next, the 25th-ranked Machac clinched the tie victory over No. 32 Flavio Cobolli, 6-1, 6-2, in just 54 minutes. He delivered nine aces, won 85 percent of his first-serve points – dropping just four points – broke his opponent’s serve four times in four chances, and faced no break points on his own serve. Machac outpointed Cobolli 53-25.
Sealing the set with an ace.
Tomas Machac takes it 6-1 #UnitedCup pic.twitter.com/XXpsaTwWPZ
— United Cup (@UnitedCupTennis) January 3, 2025
“I think this is the highest level of tennis that I can play,” Machac said on-court after his victory. “I’m really happy to play like this in such an important moment. I was surprised how I played great without any mistakes and I didn’t give him any opportunity to come back.
“I know I have this kind of level. … When I saw how the match was going, I just tried to be strong mentally for as long as possible. I was playing like Novak!”
On another level
Machac seals the spot in the semis for Team Czechia with a 6-1 6-2 win over Cobolli #UnitedCup pic.twitter.com/lqJZuud3CP
— United Cup (@UnitedCupTennis) January 3, 2025
Meanwhile, both Paolini and Cobolli took their respective losses in stride and looked for the positives to the week in preparation for the upcoming Australian Open, which begins in a little over a week.
“For me it’s the perfect way to start the season, in the team,” Cobolli said during his team’s post-match news conference. “We are, all of us, great friends, so it’s important to have a big group to start the season. We have fun on all days, so I like it.”
Paolini added: “It’s a great competition, and I think it’s also nice for the spectators to see something different. I think it’s also perfect to have this competition at the beginning of the year, because you come here and at least you play two matches plus doubles. So personally, I really like it.
“I think both of us, we play, like three matches here. It’s great to have already three matches in Australia.
“You know, today for both of us was tough, but I think it’s a great preparation for the Australian Open. Yeah, hopefully it’s going good there.”
Lessssgo #UnitedCup pic.twitter.com/N7fY3ZeJMU
— United Cup (@UnitedCupTennis) January 3, 2025
While Italy is eliminated, after finishing runner-up to the United States in the event’s inaugural 2023 edition, Czechia is through to its first United Cup semifinal on Saturday evening against the U.S. Muchova will oppose World No. 3 Coco Gauff and Machac will play World No. 4 Taylor Fritz. If it comes down to a decider in mixed doubles, expect to see Muchova and Machac against Gauff and Fritz.
“We know it’s a really tough opponent,” Muchova said. “They are both amazing athletes. So, I think for us, the most important [thing] is to recover as quick as possible and just get ready for tomorrow.”
Around the United Cup
World No. 16 Hubert Hurkacz arrived at Ken Rosewall Arena for Thursday evening’s Poland-Great Britain quarterfinal tie having lost four consecutive matches dating back to last September – to Jack Draper of Great Britain in Tokyo and American Alex Michelsen in Paris, which finished the 2024 season, plus his first two singles matches in Group B at the United Cup. First, he lost 7-5, 3-6, 6-4 to No. 25 Tomas Machac of Czechia, then fell 7-5, 6-3 to World No. 6 Casper Ruud of Norway.
Hubert Hurkacz (photo: Tennis Australia/James Gourley)
However, credit Hurkacz, a veteran of three United Cup editions, for maintaining his cool under pressure. He used that quality to finally pull off a 7-6 (3), 7-5 win over No. 125 Billy Harris of Great Britain, who was added to the British team as a substitute for the injured World No. 15 Draper. Hurkacz struck 18 service aces, won 88 percent of his first-serve points and saved all three break points he faced.
The victory was the 150th tour-level hard-court win of Hurkacz’s career and he improved to 5-0 against players ranked outside the Top 30 at the United Cup.
Next, Hurkacz will face No. 78 Alexander Shevchenko of Kazakhstan, who has won two of his three matches in the event – including an upset of World No. 11 Stefanos Tsitsipas (6-4, 7-6 [0]) – as part of the Poland-Kazakhstan semifinal tie on Saturday afternoon.
Saturday’s United Cup order of play
By the numbers
A year ago, Tomas Machac of Czechia needed to qualify for the main draw at the ATP 250 event in Brisbane. He didn’t own a win against a Top 10 opponent. However, by the end of 2024, he garnered 33 match victories and improved his ATP world ranking from No. 78 to No. 25.
“Quotable …”
“I just [want to] try to enjoy this moment today. … I [am] really enjoying those victories and the moments after. So, I don’t [want to] focus on tomorrow yet. When I wake up, I will start to focus on USA. But today, I just try to enjoy the moment and enjoy dinner, too.”
– Tomas Machac of Czechia, during his team’s post-match news conference, following his victory over Flavio Cobolli that clinched the semifinal tie victory over Italy.
