The Czech Republic brought Italy’s dominance in team tennis competitions to a halt on Friday, securing a commanding 2-0 victory to reach the semi-finals of the United Cup, where they will face former champions the United States.
Italy, who enjoyed a stellar 2024 season by claiming both the men’s Davis Cup and the women’s Billie Jean King Cup, faltered in the $10 million mixed-team event. The tournament, a key precursor to the Australian Open later this month, proved one step too far for the Italian team.
In the day’s second match at Sydney’s Ken Rosewall Arena, Tomas Machac delivered a masterful performance to dismantle Flavio Cobolli 6-1, 6-2 in just 54 minutes, ensuring the Czech Republic advanced to their first semi-final in the competition after group stage eliminations in its previous two editions.
“I think this kind of tennis is the highest level I can play,” Machac said afterwards. “I was surprised I managed to play so well without any mistakes. I didn’t give him any chance to come back—that was the key.”
The 23-year-old Czech compared his mental strength and precision on court to that of Novak Djokovic. “I tried to be as strong as possible mentally and played like Novak. I’m really happy with my performance today, especially because it was such an important match.”

Earlier in the day, Karolina Muchova set the tone for the tie with an assured 6-2, 6-2 win over Jasmine Paolini, the French Open and Wimbledon runner-up. The United Cup debutant extended her perfect record against the world number four to 5-0, showcasing her trademark creativity on the court.
“I really wanted to bring a point to the team, so I focused on every moment,” Muchova said. “Jasmine is an unbelievable player, and it was a tough match. She had many break points, but I served well and managed to stay strong until the end. I’m thrilled to have contributed to our success.”
The Czech Republic now turn their attention to a semi-final clash against the United States, who are aiming to reclaim the United Cup title. In the other semi-final, Kazakhstan will face Poland on Saturday, with the final scheduled for Sunday.
As the stakes rise, the Czechs will hope to carry their momentum into the weekend and continue their pursuit of their maiden United Cup crown.
