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Match Details
Fixture: (ITA) Jasmine Paolini vs (CZE) Karolina Muchova
Date: January 3, 2025
Tournament: United Cup 2025
Round: Quarterfinal
Venue: Ken Rosewall Arena, Sydney, Australia
Category: United Cup
Surface: Outdoor hardcourt
Prize Money: US$11,170,000
Live Telecast: USA - Tennis Channel | UK - Sky Sports | Canada - TSN, RDS
Jasmine Paolini vs Karolina Muchova preview
Italy's Jasmine Paolini will face Czechia's Karolina Muchova in the quarterfinals of the United Cup 2025 on January 3.
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Paolini has made a strong impression in her United Cup debut thus far. She started her campaign with a 6-1, 6-1 demolition job of Switzerland's Belinda Bencic. Her compatriots stepped up as well, and won their matches to help Italy defeat Switzerland 3-0.
Paolini continued her good run of form in her next tie against France. She took on Chloe Paquet in her singles match, and handed her a 6-0, 6-2 beatdown. Her teammates won their matches yet again, and the Italians secured another clean sweep to beat the French 3-0.
Muchova, meanwhile, started her run here against Norway's Malene Helgo and scored a comfortable 6-2, 6-2 win over her. After Tomas Machac lost his singles match, she joined forces with him to win the decisive mixed doubles match to help the Czech Republic claim a 2-1 victory over Norway.
Their next group tie was against Poland. Muchova locked horns with five-time Major champion Iga Swiatek, and lost to her 6-3, 6-4. Machac had already won his singles tie, which led to the mixed doubles rubber being the decider.
Muchova and Machac went up against Swiatek and Hubert Hurkacz. The Czech pair were down 5-2 and bagged the next four games to go 6-5 up. However, they fell shy of a comeback as the Polish duo edged them out in the tie-break. They couldn't sustain their level in the second set, and lost the match 7-6 (3), 6-3. However, the Czechs still advanced to the quarterfinals by being the best runner-up team in Sydney.
Jasmine Paolini vs Karolina Muchova head-to-head
Muchova leads Paolini 2-0 in main-draw matches at the WTA level. She won their previous encounter at the US Open 2024 in straight sets.
Jasmine Paolini vs Karolina Muchova odds
(Odds are sourced from BetMGM)
Jasmine Paolini vs Karolina Muchova prediction
Paolini dropped only four games across both of her matches here. However, Paquet doesn't usually pose a threat to top players, and Bencic is in the early stages of her comeback following the birth of her daughter. Muchova will be her first true test.
Muchova is in control of their rivalry having won both of her matches against Paolini. She won their most recent tussle en route to the semifinals of last year's US Open with ease. It was the fifth tournament of her comeback, and the Italian had reached the finals of the previous two Majors, so it was a huge win.
Based on their history, it's tough to see Paolini finding a way to outplay Muchova. Even though the Italian has played well so far, the 28-year-old Czech native will be expected to maintain her unbeaten run in this match-up.
Pick: Karolina Muchova to win in straight sets.
