Italy vs Czechia Prediction United Cup Tennis Picks 1/3/25

Jasmine Paolini vs Karolina Muchova Preview

Jasmine Paolini has won two singles match at the 2025 United Cup which is an improvement from 12 months ago. Paolini registered comprehensive wins in ties against Switzerland and France.

She defeated Belinda Bencic 6-1, 6-1 and then outclassed Chloe Paquet 6-0, 6-2. In her first match, she averaged over 70% first-serve points won and also the same number on return points. 

In her second match, Paolini won 72% of first-serve points and 59% of return points. She held in all of her seven service games and converted five break points.

Karolina Muchova, meanwhile, is making her debut at this year's United Cup and has been in good form. She won her singles match against Norway's Malene Helgo in a tie which Czechia clinched in a deciding mixed doubles.

Muchova lost her second match to World No. 2 Iga Swiatek and then could not prevent a second loss in mixed doubles with Tomas Machac. Czechia lost the tie 2-1.

Jasmine Paolini vs Karolina Muchova Head-To-Head

• Paolini and Muchova have met four times at all levels.

• Muchova owns this matchup winning all four times.

• They last played at the 2024 US Open where Muchova won 6-3, 6-3 in the last 16.

Jasmine Paolini vs Karolina Muchova Prediction

Jasmine Paolini is a transformed player without a doubt, enjoying one of the most jaw-dropping breakthroughs by a late bloomer in recent memory. She reached two Grand Slam finals at 28 in the same season, won a WTA 1000, qualified for the WTA Finals and then helped Italy win the Billie Jean King Cup.

Muchova didn't particularly hit the same heights as she only made her comeback from wrist surgery in late June last season, but still finished inside the top 30. This matchup heavily favors the crafty Czech whose tactical clarity and inventive shot selection renders Paolini's power futile. If Muchova keeps Paolini on her feet and moving throughout, there is no reason why she can't extend her unblemished record against her.

Pick: Muchova in three sets

Flavio Cobolli vs Tomas Machac Preview

No Jannik Sinner, no problem for Team Italy because Flavio Cobolli has proven to be an adequate replacement in his first United Cup. The World No. 32 has beaten Dominic Stricker and perhaps shockingly the French No. 1 Ugo Humbert.

Tomas Machac, meanwhile, lost an epic to Casper Ruud of Norway, but saved the tie by winning in mixed doubles. Then he registered his first singles win against Hubert Hurkacz which helped Czechia finish their group campaign as the second-best runner-up in Sydney.

Flavio Cobolli vs Tomas Machac Head-To-Head

• Cobolli and Machac have met twice at all levels.

• Machac won both meetings, with their most recent once being at the 2022 Andria Challenger.

Flavio Cobolli vs Tomas Machac Prediction

Italy qualified for the quarterfinal of the United Cup top of their group, winning in ties against Switzerland and France. They won all six matches on offer and dropped just one set from 13. Such was their dominance. Czechia defeated Norway in their group, but lost to Poland. Still, they qualified as the best runners up from Sydney. 

Italy has proven its weight in gold in team competitions sweeping the BJK Cup and Davis Cup in November. But Czechia is a powerhouse in team events. This tie is finely poised, and I think Czechia have marginal strength in their team to win it in singles should Muchova get them on the board in the women's match. If it goes to mixed doubles, I probably give an edge to Italy with the likely pair of Andrea Vavassori and Sara Errani.

Pick: Machac in three sets