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Australian Open LIVE: Novak Djokovic v Tomas Machac score before Jack Draper vs Aleksandar Vukic
The Australian Open continues as Novak Djokovic faces a stern test against Tomas Machac and Jack Draper bids to set up a clash against Carlos Alcaraz in the fourth round.

But Jacob Fearnley’s debut run is over after the 23-year-old Scot was beaten in straight-sets by second seed Alexander Zverev, who is yet to drop a set in Melbourne.

British interest in the men’s singles now lies with Draper who will expect another hostile crowd when he takes on Australia’s Aleksandar Vukic after surviving a marathon test against Thanasi Kokkinakis.

Djokovic, meanwhile, has dropped sets to inexperienced opponents in Nishesh Basavareddy and Jaime Faria so the 24-time grand slam champion will expect an even tougher challenge against Machac, a player who beat him in their last meeting.

In the women’s singles, Aryna Sabalenka continued her winning run at the Australian Open while Coco Gauff battles Leylah Fernandez, but two-time champion Naomi Osaka is out after she was forced to retire from her match against Belinda Bencic.

Follow all the latest scores and results from Melbourne Park below:

Australian Open latest scores and results
- Australian Open third round begins in Melbourne
- Jacob Fearnley beaten in straight sets by second seed Alexander Zverev
- Jack Draper faces another Australian favourite in Aleksandar Vukic
- Carlos Alcaraz awaits winner in fourth round after win over Nuno Borges
- Novak Djokovic faces Czech seed Tomas Machac on Rod Laver Arena
- Aryna Sabalenka through to fourth round despite shaky win
- Naomi Osaka forced to retire after first set against Belinda Bencic
Australian Open: *Novak Djokovic 5-1 Tomas Machac

08:48 , Jamie Braidwood

Break! For the third game in a row, Machac loses the first couple of points on serve and Djokovic quickly gets a look at another three break points.

Machac is pushed into the forehand miss out wide and Djokovic takes the double break.

(Getty Images)

Australian Open Novak Djokovic 4-1 Tomas Machac*

08:45 , Jamie Braidwood

Incredible game between Djokovic and Machac, but it’s the 10-time champion who emerges with the hold to consolidate the break.

Machac had the crowd on their feet by winning a lengthy opening point with great defensive coverage behind the baseline.

Djokovic, though, responded with a high level, finishing the game off at the net. The 37-year-old has really had to raise it here.

Australian Open *Novak Djokovic 3-1 Tomas Machac

08:37 , Jamie Braidwood

It’s been a difficult day for serving in Melbourne, with a breeze swirling around the Rod Laver Arena.

For the second game in a row, Machac faces 0-30 on serve and will again face break points as Djokovic stepped in on the forehand after a net-cord from the Czech.

Djokovic catches the line on the return but Machac saves with excellent hands at the net.

But Djokovic takes the break on the fifth opportunity, as Machac nets on the backhand.

Australian Open: Novak Djokovic 2-1 Tomas Machac*

08:33 , Jamie Braidwood

Machac comes into the net and pops over the volley into open court to get to 30-30 on the Djokovic serve.

But he can’t do enough to force the break point. Djokovic instead holds with the backhand winner down the line.

Machac, though, has shown enough in three games to suggest that this will be as competitive as many thought.

Australian Open: *Novak Djokovic 1-1 Tomas Machac

08:28 , Jamie Braidwood

Incredible recovery from Machac! He looked to be slumping into a horror opening service game, facing 0-40 after netting.

But Machac saves all three, and in style. He displays wonderful athleticism to reach a Djokovic drop shot and find the angled pick-up on the third break point.

He holds from there. Excellent start from Machac.

Australian Open: Novak Djokovic 1-0 Tomas Machac*

08:24

Is that a hint at what’s to come? Machac drags Djokovic into deuce in a six-minute opening service game, with competitive exchanges in the baseline rallies from the start.

Djokovic gets his hold but is made to work for it, as Machac drifts a return long.

Australian Open: *Novak Djokovic 0-0 Tomas Machac

08:17 , Jamie Braidwood

Tomas Machac had a breakthrough year last season, with his straight-sets victory over Carlos Alcaraz in the Shanghai quarter-finals being the highlight. He also beat Djokovic in the Geneva semi-finals.

But he lost to Jack Draper in the last-16 of the US Open and played an absolute horror. The 24-year-old is yet to make the breakthrough at the grand slams but this is his opportunity.

Djokovic will serve first.

(Getty Images)

Australian Open: Novak Djokovic vs Tomas Machac

08:10 , Jamie Braidwood

Here we go! The players are out onto the Rod Laver Arena. Novak Djokovic will have to be at the top of his game today, assuming the extremely Tomas Machac turns up.

Elsewhere, Coco Gauff and Leylah Fernandez are set to begin their clash on the Margaret Court Arena. It’s a tasty match between two of the brightest players in the game.

Australian Open: Jacob Fearnley on defeat to Alexander Zverev

07:57

Jacob Fearnley had no complaints after exiting the Australian Open in a straight-sets defeat to Alexander Zverev, as the Scot reflected on another breakthrough week.

“Extremely good opponent,” Fearnley said of Zverev, who won 6-3 6-4 6-4. “I thought I played some good tennis, some good moments, some low moments.

“I don’t think there was too much in it. Just a few points here and there. I think that’s what those top guys do so well. They keep composed, and their base level just stays the same throughout the whole match. Mine went quite up and down, which I think is what cost me the match.

“Obviously an extremely, extremely good week for me. An unbelievable tournament. I’m looking forward to coming back in the future.”

(Getty Images)

Australian Open: Novak Djokovic vs Tomas Machac

07:43 , Jamie Braidwood

Novak Djokovic faces his biggest test of the Australian Open so far when he takes on Tomas Machac on the Rod Laver Arena.

Djokovic has so far dropped sets to inexperienced opponents in American wildcard Nishesh Basavareddy and Portuguese Jaime Faria.

And the 24-time grand slam champion will expect another step up when he takes on Machac, who won their last meeting in Geneva last season.

Machac also had a win over Andy Murray last last season, who is now sitting on Djokovic’s bench.

That will get underway from 8am GMT.

(Getty Images)

When does Jack Draper play Aleksandar Vukic at Australian Open?

07:31 , Jamie Braidwood

So it could be Carlos Alcaraz next for Jack Draper, as the British No 1 bids to reach the Australian Open fourth round for the first time

But Draper plays another Australian in Aleksandar Vukic, after surviving a five-set thriller against Thanasi Kokkinakis.

Draper overcame a hostile atmosphere and “abuse” from the home fans as he defeated Kokkinakis in what was the longest match of the 23-year-old’s career.

But Draper said that the jeering home crowd actually increased his energy and made him play better against Kokkinakis.

Vukic, 28, is through to the third round of a grand slam for the first time and the World No 67 will have the crowd’s backing as he looks to continue his run.

He is one of two Australian players left standing at the tournament – along with eighth seed Alex de Minaur.

When does Draper play Vukic at Australian Open and how can I watch on TV?

Australian Open: Carlos Alcaraz drops set but races through

07:26

Carlos Alcaraz dropped his first set of the Australian Open but the Spaniard quickly put it behind him to beat Nuno Borges and reach the third round.

Alcaraz is quietly going about his business in Melbourne, as the Spaniard bids to become the youngest player to win all four grand slams at the age of 21.

He came through a third-round clash with Portugal’s Borges 6-2 6-4 6-7(3) 6-3.

Alcaraz is through to the fourth round, where he will face either British No 1 Jack Draper of Australian hopeful Aleksandar Vukic.

(Getty Images)

Australian Open: Naomi Osaka retires against Belinda Bencic

07:15 , Jamie Braidwood

A tough end to Naomi Osaka’s Australian Open. The former World No 1 is forced to retire at the end of the first set to Belinda Bencic.

Osaka led 5-2 in the first set but began to struggle to with her stomach and took painkillers after calling the physio onto court.

Bencic came back to force the tiebreak, winning the decider 7-3, before Osaka decided to shake hands at the net.

(Getty Images)

Australian Open: Aryna Sabalenka through after shaky win

07:10 , Jamie Braidwood

Aryna Sabalenka dismissed concerns about her serve after beating Carla Tauson 7-6 6-4 to reach the fourth round.

The match on the Rod Laver Arena began with seven consecutive breaks of serve, with the World No 1 struggling with the conditions on the Rod Laver Arena.

“After a few games the balls became much heavier and it’s hard to serve aggressive, powerful serves, so you just try to direct the serve somehow and start building the rallies,” Sabalenka said.

“Tauson received it very well and I did too and that’s why it was such a rather unusual match. Thank God that I succeeded in managing the conditions.”

Jacob Fearnley bundled out of Australian Open in straight sets

07:05 , Eleanor Crooks

Jacob Fearnley’s fine Australian Open debut ended with a straight-sets loss to second seed Alexander Zverev in the third round.

The Scot continues to take the upper levels of the professional game comfortably in his stride and he did not look out of place against one of the tournament favourites on Margaret Court Arena.

But he could not maintain any sustained pressure on Zverev, who wrapped up a 6-3 6-4 6-4 victory in two hours and two minutes.

Fearnley struck marginally more winners, with his forehand causing Zverev consistent problems, but there were also 34 unforced errors compared to only 15 for the German.

It has nevertheless been an excellent week for Fearnley, who defeated Nick Kyrgios and the Australian crowd in the first round before coming from a set down to see off Arthur Cazaux in round two.

Jacob Fearnley bundled out of Australian Open in straight sets
Australian Open LIVE: Novak Djokovic dominates Tomas Machac in straight sets

Novak Djokovic has continued his blistering form at the Australian Open, defeating Tomas Machac in a commanding fashion. The world No. 1 was in complete control throughout the match, showcasing his trademark precision and power.

The Serbian maestro took the first set 6-2, displaying his superior shot-making and court coverage. He then followed it up with a dominant 6-1 victory in the second set, leaving Machac with no answers to his relentless attack.

As the players head into the third set, Djokovic looks poised to seal the match in straight sets and advance to the next round. Meanwhile, fans are eagerly anticipating the upcoming clash between Jack Draper and Aleksandar Vukic, which promises to be an exciting battle.

Stay tuned for more updates and live coverage of the Australian Open action. #AusOpen #DjokovicvsMachac

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2. Novak Djokovic
3. Tomas Machac
4. Score Update
5. Jack Draper
6. Aleksandar Vukic
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9. Live Stream
10. Match Highlights
#Australian #Open #LIVE #Novak #Djokovic #Tomas #Machac #score #Jack #Draper #Aleksandar #Vukic
January 17, 2025
Novak Djokovic’s Australian Open gets real with Tomas Machac test

MELBOURNE, Australia — This is what it looks like when the Australian Open, or any Grand Slam tournament, begins to pivot in Novak Djokovic’s direction.

A couple of decent tests in the first couple of matches to work out the kinks against young players he might invite for a practice set at one of his four haunts. Monte Carlo or Marbella, Montenegro or Belgrade. Some moments of stress are needed to get the body and the brain used to firing under pressure.

Ideally, there are different challenges in each battle. A steady baseliner one night. A free-swinger with a booming serve the next.

“Another big test, another three-hour match, back to back against the youngsters,” Djokovic said after he needed four sets to beat a player aged 21 or younger and appearing in their maiden Grand Slam for the second round in a row, seeing off Portuguese qualifier Jaime Faria 6-1, 6-7(4), 6-3, 6-2.

He liked how he started and how he finished those matches. He felt his level rising incrementally with each one, a process he has honed through his long evolution into a Grand Slam machine.

Djokovic has been a master of peaking when he needs to at majors for as long as most tennis fans can remember — until last year in Melbourne, when a defeat to Jannik Sinner heralded a sequence with more suffering than he’s been used to in the four biggest tennis events. An injury at the French Open. Another final, but a humbling defeat to Carlos Alcaraz at Wimbledon. An upset against Alexei Popyrin at the U.S. Open.

At some point in that process, the fight arrives, which makes it all very real.

That’s what Friday should deliver in the form of Tomas Machac, a 24-year-old Czech who has become one of the flavors of the moment among tennis aesthetes, its latest if-you-know-you-know indie band. He’s the guy with the jumping forehands and the floating all-court game who doesn’t necessarily have one fearsome weapon, but rather a varied arsenal that lights up the eyes rather than stat sheets.

World No. 25 Machac also has one of the more combustible brains on the ATP Tour. One minute he’s rolling along, looking like the second coming of Roger Federer. The next, for reasons he now knows but for a long while didn’t, he leaves the tracks and becomes a misfiring highlight machine.

That’s been happening far less over the past year. He blew up in the United Cup semifinal against Taylor Fritz two weeks ago in Sydney, amid cramping and a missed match point that had him flinging rackets and screaming at coaches and teammates. Tennis players have their moments, especially when their body and mind let them down as one.

Machac has already gotten through one of the game’s stiffest tests outside facing one of the top players in the rankings. He survived the ridiculous serve of the nearly seven-foot-tall Reilly Opelka, a mind-numbing exercise that usually brings a series of tiebreaks, depressing walks back and forth between return positions and immense pressure to hold your serve. Opelka had knocked Djokovic out of the previous event in Brisbane.

After three and a half hours and five sets, three of them decided by tiebreaks, Machac had earned himself a date with the 10-time Australian Open champion and the greatest player of the modern era.

Tomas Machac’s peaks and troughs are worlds apart on the tennis court. (Quinn Rooney / Getty Images)

“You never know with this guy,” he said of Djokovic afterwards — an odd statement, since the Serbian during the first week of the Australian Open has been one of tennis’ more bankable outcomes over the past 15 years. “I try to play my game.”

That game has come on like a speeding train over the past nine months. At this point last year, Machac was the lesser half of a couple with former girlfriend and compatriot Katerina Siniakova, one of the world’s top doubles players. A red carpet photo of the pair was captioned, “Katerina Siniakova and guest.”

In March in Miami, Machac made a quarterfinal of a Masters 1000 for the first time, notching one of his first top 10 wins, against Andrey Rublev.

A few days later, in a tunnel under that event’s Hard Rock Stadium, Machac was asked why, by the standards of his profession, he had taken so long to get to this spot, given everyone in the locker room was fully aware of his obvious talents.

That launched him into a monologue that had almost nothing to do with how he held his racket when he hit a serve or a forehand, or how often he came to the net. For years, he said, he simply had not thought he was capable of getting to the last eight of a big tournament.

“I needed to believe in myself, that I can be in quarterfinals and sometimes achieve great results,” Machac said. “It’s not easy. You need to work, work, work, and the result sometimes comes, sometimes not. Even if you lose three matches in a row, four matches in a row, you need to believe in yourself. This is the key.”

Two months later, he blew past a physically-hampered Djokovic at the Geneva Open, when the latter was desperate for wins and matches on clay ahead of the French Open. He paired with Siniakova to win a mixed-doubles gold medal at the Olympics in Paris, then made the last 16 at the U.S. Open — his first visit to the second week of a Grand Slam.

The big breakthrough arrived in Shanghai, where he bested a flat Alcaraz in straight sets in the quarterfinals, then hung close with Sinner before losing in their semifinal.

“I can play with the best ones, for sure,” Machac said after that loss. “That is what I learned.”

GO DEEPER

Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner are redrawing the tennis court

In other words, he believes — even if he has to keep reminding himself to do so.

It is the sort of stuff he has written down in the notebook that he consults during changeovers. He started the habit in 2023 after he brought it onto the court and won two consecutive Challenger-level tournaments.

That’s right. Machac, who has stretches of performing like the best player on the planet but endures stretches when it appears he has never been on a tennis court, was still playing Challengers 18 months ago. Sometimes, when the matches get nervy, he goes to the notebook to ease the stress and settle his emotions.

Enjoy the moment.

Don’t think about the results.

“Those basic words, it’s really important during those matches,” Machac said. “It needs to be really easy for me. Especially for me.”

He may need some words Friday night. Djokovic will be getting wisdom from Andy Murray, the fellow all-time great and former rival in his coaching box. Machac beat him last year, too.

Djokovic, known for his tirades and explosions at his support teams, has been doing nothing of the sort with Murray up there. After losing a set to the unheralded Faria on Wednesday night, he and Murray had a consultation that looked like a lawyer and his client having a quick sidebar during a run-of-the-mill negotiation.

More of those may be required with Machac on the other side of the net.

Maybe Machac is right — you never know with that guy.

(Top photo: Adrian Dennis / AFP via Getty Images)

Novak Djokovic’s Australian Open campaign is set to get real with a tough test against rising star Tomas Machac.

Machac, a 21-year-old Czech player, has been making waves on the ATP tour with his impressive performances and has already caused upsets against higher-ranked opponents.

Djokovic, the defending champion and world number one, will need to be at the top of his game to overcome the challenge posed by Machac. The Serbian star is aiming for a record-extending 10th Australian Open title and will be looking to make a statement in this match.

The encounter between Djokovic and Machac promises to be an exciting and highly-anticipated showdown, with fans eagerly awaiting to see how the young gun will fare against the seasoned champion.

Stay tuned for what is sure to be a thrilling match as Djokovic’s Australian Open campaign gets real with the Tomas Machac test.

Tags:

Novak Djokovic, Australian Open, Tomas Machac, tennis, Grand Slam, match, tournament, competition, player, sports, Melbourne, championship, showdown, title defense, top seed, ATP tour, professional tennis, epic battle, world-class athletes.

#Novak #Djokovics #Australian #Open #real #Tomas #Machac #test

January 17, 2025
Inside the rise of Tomas Machac | ATP Tour

Player Features

Inside the rise of Tomas Machac

Exclusive insight from Machac and coach Daniel Vacek

January 02, 2025

Peter Staples/ATP Tour

Tomas Machac is the top-ranked men’s player from Czechia.
By Andrew Eichenholz

Tomas Machac began his 2024 season as the No. 78 player in the PIF ATP Rankings. Twelve months later, he has become one of the most dangerous competitors on the ATP Tour.

The Czech is up to a career-high World No. 25 and on the rise, even if he did not necessarily expect such a rapid ascent.

“I think I would say I would be a little bit surprised, to be 25 in the world and to have this kind of season,” Machac told ATPTour.com. “I’m not forgetting that I won a gold medal in [mixed doubles at] the Olympic Games. So the season was unbelievable for me, really.”

Based on his performance so far at the United Cup, where the Czech tested Casper Ruud for nearly three hours and then defeated Hubert Hurkacz in three sets, Machac has no plans to slow down any time soon. But while it has not been apparent in his tennis, the 24-year-old had a preseason he said “wasn’t that good”.

The plan was to spend five or six weeks in his preseason preparing for 2025. After two weeks of training, he fell ill and did not know what was wrong. The Czech was prescribed antibiotics, but was completely out of training for 14 days. Plans needed to change.

Machac brought his fitness coach to Sydney and has been doing “a little bit more than I wanted to” during this opening event of the season to ensure he is adequately prepared for the tournaments to come.

“I was [doing] two tennis practices, and then one fitness, and then I was doing fitness, running, tennis, tennis. So I was a little bit [tired], yeah, but otherwise, I would not finish the match with Casper if I didn’t do that, because I would not be really prepared,” Machac said. “You have to play with the cards you have on the table. That’s why I’m really happy with the performance and with the results that I achieved here, and that’s why I was so pumped up in the third set [against Hurkacz], because I realised that I am doing incredible things with my body and with the win I was in heaven.

“I’m standing here, I won one match and was close with Casper. So I’m really happy that I managed to find my health and my body is struggling, but now it’s getting better and better. So I’m really happy with that.”

A year ago Machac needed to qualify at the ATP 250 event in Brisbane to begin his season and did not own a win against a Top 10 opponent. But this is a new and improved player, and not just because of physical development, according to his coach and Czechia captain Daniel Vacek.

“The most improved [part of his game] is that he believes in himself, much more than he did in the past,” Vacek told ATPTour.com.

Earning four Top 10 victories in a season will certainly help with that. Players he defeated in 2024 include Carlos Alcaraz, Novak Djokovic, Andy Murray (twice) and Stan Wawrinka.

“I think the season was unbelievable for me to show myself that I can play against the best players and I can win those matches,” Machac said.

One triumph in particular stands out. At the Rolex Shanghai Masters, Machac advanced to his second ATP Masters 1000 quarter-final. Across the net was Alcaraz, fresh off a thrilling win against Jannik Sinner in the Beijing final. Undeterred, Machac produced arguably the best performance of his career to upset the Spaniard 7-6(5), 7-5.

“I feel like I was playing against a Top-5 player, not even Top 10. Top 5, his level, it was so high,” Alcaraz said in his post-match press conference. “I thought that he was going to give me an opportunity, a window, but he didn’t.”

Machac said of the match: “He was playing his best tennis, and even he said that he was playing great and I managed to beat him in straight sets. So that match showed me that I can really be a great player, but I need to focus on my tennis and trying to be healthy as much as possible.”

While not yet an ATP Tour titlist, Machac has proven he is able to rise to the occasion on the world’s biggest stages and against the toughest opposition.

“I like the [big] tournaments, and I like to play against the best players,” Machac said. “For me, it’s great practice to push me up and up.”

Vacek explained how big of an advantage that mentality is.

“He really loves to play on the centre courts, on the big courts with a lot of people against the top guys. He really enjoys the top guys, the top events and even Davis Cup or the team competitions, he really looks forward to [them],” Vacek said. “He thrives on it. He’s really looking forward to it and I think he does everything so he gets there again.”

In terms of tennis, Vacek, the former World No. 26 in singles and No. 3 in doubles, added that Machac has improved his fitness, speed and agility. The coach said: “Everybody knows that he’s extremely talented so when he puts all these things together, he’s very dangerous.”

But it is not a particular weapon that has stood out, according to Machac.

“I think I can play everything. I actually am great on my serve. So in case I’m not serving well, I can be strong even on the baseline. Really, really strong,” Machac said. “I can do everything that I want to do on the court, and it also depends on the situation. So this is, I think, my strength — that I don’t have so many weak sides.”

Machac will hope to show that Friday evening when he leads Czechia against Italy in the United Cup quarter-finals. In men’s singles, he will take on Flavio Cobolli, marking their first Lexus ATP Head2Head meeting.

“I’m really happy with my physical stuff, even [though] it’s not 100 per cent and I didn’t play the best tennis, I managed to find my rhythm,” Machac said. “I’m really pleased with the start of the year.”

Tomas Machac is quickly making a name for himself on the ATP Tour, with an impressive rise through the rankings and some standout performances on the court. The young Czech player has been turning heads with his skill and determination, and his success is a testament to his hard work and dedication.

Machac’s rise in the rankings has been nothing short of meteoric. Just a few years ago, he was barely on the radar of most tennis fans, but now he is a player to watch out for on the tour. His aggressive style of play and powerful groundstrokes have earned him some impressive victories against top-ranked players, and he is quickly becoming a force to be reckoned with.

But it’s not just his skill on the court that has people talking about Machac. His work ethic and commitment to his craft are also major factors in his success. He puts in countless hours of practice and training, always looking for ways to improve and elevate his game. His focus and determination have helped him overcome obstacles and setbacks, and he continues to push himself to reach new heights.

As he continues to climb the rankings and make a name for himself on the ATP Tour, it’s clear that Tomas Machac is a player with a bright future ahead of him. With his talent, work ethic, and determination, there’s no telling how far he can go in the world of professional tennis. Stay tuned to see what he accomplishes next on the court.

Tags:

Tomas Machac, ATP Tour, rising star, tennis player, young talent, professional athlete, Czech Republic, ATP rankings, future champion, tennis career, player spotlight, up-and-coming player

#rise #Tomas #Machac #ATP #Tour

January 4, 2025
Hubert Hurkacz vs Tomas Machac preview, head-to-head, prediction, odds and pick

Match Details

Fixture: (POL) Hubert Hurkacz vs (CZE) Tomas Machac

Date: January 1, 2025

Tournament: United Cup 2025

Round: Group Stage

Venue: Ken Rosewall Arena, Sydney, Australia

Category: United Cup

Surface: Hard

Prize Money: $11,170,000

Live Telecast: USA – Tennis Channel | UK – Sky Sports | Canada – TSN, RDS

Hubert Hurkacz vs Tomas Machac preview

Hurkacz at the 2024 US Open (Source: Getty)

Poland’s Hubert Hurkacz will face off against Czech Republic’s Tomas Machac in a Group B tie at the 2025 United Cup on Wednesday, January 1.

Hurkacz had a decent campaign in 2024 until facing fitness issues. The Pole won the Estoril Open and finished runner-up at the Terra Wortmann Open as he reached a career-high ranking of No. 6 in August.

However, after a picking up a knee injury at Wimbledon, Hurkacz suffered a slight collapse. The Pole lost five of his last nine matches of the season. His woes continued at the United Cup as he lost his opening fixture 5-7, 3-6 to Norway’s Casper Ruud.

Meanwhile, Machac enjoyed a steady rise up the rankings throughout the season. From being ranked No. 78 in January, the Czech reached his career-best ranking of No. 25 by October.

Machac’s most notable performance came at the Geneva Open, where he secured four consecutive wins including a semifinal victory over Novak Djokovic to reach the final. He lost to Casper Ruud in the summit clash. Machac faced the Norwegian in his opener at the United Cup and lost 6-7(6), 7-5, 4-6.

Hubert Hurkacz vs Tomas Machac head-to-head

This will be their second meeting on the tour. The head-to-head stands 1-0 in favor of Hurkacz who defeated Machac 6-3, 6-4 in the quarterfinals of the 2024 Open 13 in Marseille.

Hubert Hurkacz vs Tomas Machac odds

Player Moneyline Handicap Bets Total Games

Hubert Hurkacz +105 +1.5 (-250) Over 22.5 (-155)

Tomas Machac -140 -1.5 (+165) Under 22.5 (+105)

(Odds are sourced from BetMGM)

Hubert Hurkacz vs Tomas Machac prediction

Machac at the 2025 United Cup (Source: Getty)

Hurkacz will need to put aside his recent troubles to have any chances of winning against Machac. Although hardcourts are not his most preferred surface, the quick conditions in Sydney could aid the Pole’s aggressive approach. If he remains match fit, his powerful serve and backhand could prove deadly.

Machac’s backhand is also his strong point. The Czech is particularly good in outdoor hardcourts, where he enjoyed great success last year. He tested Ruud more than Hurkacz did, taking the match to three sets which included a tie-break.

Given his current form, Machac looks keen to take on any opponent with full confidence. Hurkacz is the more experienced but his fitness issues could let him down. Hence, the Czech is expected to come out on top in this fixture.

Pick: Machac to win in three-sets.