Team Switzerland defeated Team France 2-1 on day two at the United Cup and will now be trying to secure their spot in the quarterfinals. This won’t come easy as Italy has recently been excelling in team competitions, picking up the trophies at the Billie Jean King Cup and the Davis Cup. As ever, we here at LWOT will be offering our predictions for every match, including Karolina Muchova vs Malene Helgo, Alexander Zverev vs Thiago Monteiro and Coco Gauff vs Leylah Fernandez.
United Cup Day 3 Predictions: Italy vs Switzerland
Flavio Cobolli vs Dominic Stricker
Head-to-head: Cobolli 1-0 Stricker
Flavio Cobolli and Dominic Stricker won 2020 Roland Garros boys’ doubles title together and they’re now meeting for the second time in professional tennis. The Italian looked like the weaker prospect at first, but has now taken his game to a level that has so far been unattainable for his former partner. That said, Stricker is mostly so low in the rankings due to his injury in 2024 and should be on his way back up, though this might still be a little too early for him.
Prediction: Cobolli in 3
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Jasmine Paolini vs Belinda Bencic
Head-to-head: Bencic 2-0
This should be the perfect test for Belinda Bencic to check how close she is to the top at the moment. After all, Jasmine Paolini very much belongs up there right now with her two Slam finals and all the success in the Olympics/Billie Jean King Cup as well. The intensity of the Italian might make it tough for Bencic at this stage of her comeback. And Paolini has been standing up to the challenge in the team competitions as well, making herself an even tougher opponent to beat.
Prediction: Paolini in 3
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Sara Errani/Andrea Vavassori vs Belinda Bencic/Dominic Stricker
Head-to-head: First meeting
It would be tough to make a mixed doubles power ranking with how little experience most pairs at this event have. But Sara Errani and Andrea Vavassori would be near the top after winning the US Open together. We know they have the chemistry and elite doubles skills to be a major weapon for Team Italy here. Belinda Bencic and Dominic Stricker can play doubles too and posted the key win against France together. But Errani and Vavassori have to be the favourites here. They’re probably the best mixed team in the tournament.
Prediction: Errani/Vavassori in 3
Main photo credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
