Sydney, Jan 3 (NationPress) Karolina Muchova and Tomas Machac propelled Czechia into the semifinals of the United Cup after defeating Italy 2-1 in their quarterfinal match on Friday. Following her remarkable performance, World No. 22 Muchova allowed only four games against World No. 4 Jasmine Paolini in her fifth consecutive victory, while Machac displayed his physical prowess against 22-year-old Flavio Cobolli to secure the tie. Czechia is set to challenge the USA for a chance to reach the finals.
Machac, starting the season at a career-high No. 25 in the ATP Rankings, dominated his service games and overpowered the World No. 32 from the baseline. He breezed through the first set in a mere 23 minutes, ultimately winning 6-1, 6-2 in just 54 minutes.
"I believe this is the highest caliber of tennis I can play. I am thrilled to perform at such a crucial moment. I was amazed at how well I played without errors, and I didn't give him any chances to recover. I recognize that I possess this level of play...as I observed the match's flow, I focused on maintaining my mental strength for as long as possible. I felt like Novak!" Machac remarked.
Earlier, Muchova gave Czechia an early lead at 1-0 by defeating the No. 4 seed Jasmine Paolini with a score of 6-2, 6-2. This victory improved Muchova's record against Paolini to 5-0.
"I was eager to secure a point for the team, so I concentrated intensely. Jasmine is an exceptional player. It was a challenging match. I knew I had to persevere until the end. She had numerous break opportunities. I believe my serving was strong. I am genuinely pleased with the result," Muchova expressed.
Muchova's offensive strategy proved overwhelming for Paolini, who has managed to win only one set in their five encounters. Their most recent matchup occurred at the US Open last fall, where Muchova triumphed 6-3, 6-1 on her way to the semifinals.
