Italy and the Czech Republic meet, a place in the semi-finals is at stake

A few days ago, after Team Italy completed its journey to the quarterfinals of the United Cup, reporters asked the members who they would most like to play against. Great Britain and Australia were mentioned as possible options.

“I hate to say that,” said Jasmine Paolini. “I also don’t like to think about which team or which opponent will be better. If you think someone is better, you play against him or her – and you lose.”

As it turned out, following an oddity in the qualifying scenarios, Italy met the Czech Republic in the last quarter-final in Sydney on Friday.

United Cup: Results | Pulls | Order of play

Poland were supposed to play the best runner-up in Sydney, but that was the Czech Republic, who they had just beaten in Group B. According to United Cup rules, teams from the same group cannot meet again until the final. So Britain and the Czech Republic swapped places, setting up the Poland-Britain duel on Thursday (which Poland won) and the delicious Italy-Czech Republic duel on Friday.

The winner advances to the semifinals on Saturday against the USA 3-0 at the Ken Rosewall Arena. Kazakhstan (3-0) will face Poland (3-0) in the other Final Four match.

It’s now the quarterfinals in Brisbane with No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka. The quarterfinals in Auckland, New Zealand will be headlined by No. 1 seed Madison Keys and No. 7 seed Naomi Osaka.

United Cup: Sydney

Group D winner Italy (2:0) against Group B runner-up Czech Republic (1:1)

Start time: (5:30 p.m. local time, 1:30 a.m. ET)

(4) Jasmine Paolini (ITA) vs. (8) Karolina Muchova (CZE)
(4) Flavio Cobolli (ITA) vs. (8) Tomas Machac (CZE)
(4) Sara Errani (ITA) / Andrea Vavassori (ITA) vs. (8) Karolina Muchova (CZE) / Tomas Machac (CZE)

So how did the Czech Republic get to the quarter-finals – how close Was It?

Australia, Argentina and the Czechs split all six games, and the next tiebreaker was percentage of sets won. The Czech Republic and Australia both won 50 percent, so it came down to percentage of games won – and the Czechs got 51.05, just ahead of Australia’s 49.52.

Paolini is ranked No. 4 in the world but will face a formidable opponent: Muchova, who has won all four of their previous meetings, most recently in the round of 16 of the 2024 US Open.

Cobolli and Machac have never played before, but this feels like a fair fight. Look at the numbers:

Cobolli is ranked 32nd, is 22 years old and went 35-27 in 2024.

Machac is No. 25, 24 years old and 33-23.

When it comes to mixed doubles, Italy could have the advantage. Sara Errani and Andrea Vavassori are 2-0, with straight-set wins over France and Switzerland. Muchova and Machac are 1-1 after losing to Iga Swiatek and Hubert Hurkacz of Poland.

Brisbane International

Six days ago, sixteen seeds started the tournament and there are only two left – No. 1 Sabalenka and No. 8 Mirra Andreeva.

How about this exciting quarterfinal match between 30-year-old Ons Jabeur and 17-year-old Andreeva? Jabeur – a three-time major finalist – is coming off a four-month injury layoff. Already ranked higher than her age (No. 16), Andreeva has a bright future.

Remaining surprises include Australian wildcard No. 113 Kimberly Birrell and No. 107 qualifier Polina Kudermetova.

Anhelina Kalinina (UKR) vs. (WC) Kimberly Birrell (AUS)
Ons Jabeur (TUN) vs (8) Mirra Andreeva
(1) Aryna Sabalenka vs. Marie Bouzkova (CZE)
Ashlyn Krueger (USA) vs. (Q) Polina Kudermetova

Auckland ASB Classic

The Americans dominate in New Zealand. No fewer than six made it to the quarterfinals, led by Keys.

Bernarda Pera (USA) vs. Robin Montgomery (USA)
(7) Naomi Osaka (JPN) vs. Hailey Baptiste (USA)
(1) Madison Keys (USA) vs. (5) Clara Tauson (DEN)
(8) Katie Volynets (USA) vs. Alycia Parks (USA)