United Cup 2023: Frances Tiafoe vs Tomas Machac Tennis Prediction

TennisSection previews the 2023 United Cup as Frances Tiafoe takes on Tomas Machac in the group stages on Friday, December 30th, 2022.

Frances Tiafoe will be a heavy favorite when he lines up to take on Czech Republic’s Tomas Machac. But will the American be feeling the pressure on his United Cup bout? Let us take a look at our match preview.

Frances Tiafoe had the best season of his career in 2022. Tiafoe performed heroics at his slam – the US Open – where he reached the semifinals and vowed to win it all in future. That painful loss to Carlos Alcaraz will surely spur him on to achieve even more success in 2023. In team events, Tiafoe was instrumental in guiding Team World to a maiden Laver Cup success in London and playing the role of party spoiler on Roger Federer’s final match. Towards the end of his season, Tiafoe was looking like a spent force, so a month break will have given sufficient rest time to recharge his batteries. Will he get on the board when he takes on Tomas Machac?

Tomas Machac faces a daunting task in his opening bout at the United Cup. A meeting against the second-ranked American Frances Tiafoe is not the kind of match he will be expected to win, but he will give his best shot for his country. Machac has featured predominantly on the Challenger Tour where he has won three titles at that level, including the Tralagon Challenger on Australian soil in 2022. He also qualified for the main draw at the Australian Open and reached the second round where he lost in four sets to Maxime Cressy. So clearly, he has the talent to challenge the ATP’s seasoned campaigners. But is a meeting against Tiafoe one reality too far?

Frances Tiafoe and Tomas Machac have not played at any level. Their clash at the United Cup will be their first official meeting. Tiafoe is the more experienced player, particularly at the highest level. The American is also a team player, who creates a buzz and naturally enjoys showcasing his talent and abilities in team events. Machac is no slouch and will surely give it a go, but it is just hard to fathom an upset in this one. Tiafoe is superior in almost every department.