By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Friday January 3, 2025
Tomas Machac rifled past Italy's Flavio Cobolli to clinch victory over Team Czechia over Italy at United Cup.
Photo Source: TTV
Karolina Muchova and Tomas Machac powered Czechia past Italy in short order on Friday night at United Cup, the pair of Czechs racing past Italy’s top-flight talent to the tune of just seven games dropped.
Muchova won 10 of the final games to take out fourth-ranked Jasmine Paolini, 6-2, 6-2, and an inspired Machac needed just 53 minutes to get past Flavio Cobolli, 6-1, 6-2.
“I think this kind of tennis is the highest that I can play,” 25th-ranked Machac said after his blistering performance against the World No.32 “I was surprised how I played, without any mistakes.
“I know I can play my best tennis against the best ones,” he added. “I was just trying to focus, and when I saw how the match was going I was just trying to stay as long as I can mentally on the court.”
Machac, who lost to Casper Ruud in three sets and defeated Hubert Hurkacz in three sets in his previous two singles matches at United Cup this year, is the highest-ranked Czech man at the moment, and he played like it.
"I think today was unbelievable day for the Czech flag," Machac said. "I saw playing Karolina before me. She was playing unbelievable, so I said, Why not me?"
Muchova looked magnificent as well, as she notched her 15th career Top 10 win to make it 15 wins in her last 18 matches, dating back to the start of her semifinal run at last year’s US Open. She improved to 5-0 lifetime against Paolini with the win.
"I think I played really great and she didn't have that much space to lead a game," Muchova said of the pair's fifth meeting. "I think I didn't let her play her game. I wouldn't say it's anything about her game. It's my third match. I think I'm getting better match by match, and I had a good day today."
Czechia will face Team USA in the semininals tomorrow, while Poland will take on Kazakhstan.