Prižmić beat Shevchenko 2-6, 6-3, 6-3, 5-7, 7-5 at the US Open, recovering from 2-4 down in the deciding set by winning the final five games. It was a scrappy, hard-fought win that hinged on the chaotic fifth set.
Shevchenko raced through the opener with breaks at 0-1 and 2-5. Prižmić levelled in the second with breaks at 2-0 and 5-1, then added a break in the opening game of the third. Shevchenko forced a decider by taking the fourth 7-5, but in the fifth Prižmić kept answering: he broke back at 1-2, 2-3 and 3-4, then made the decisive moves at 5-5 and 7-5.
The box score was remarkably close, but Shevchenko had more of the serve numbers: 13 aces to 8, six breaks converted to five and 16 service games held to 15. Prižmić compensated with resilience and the match’s biggest point streak, winning 12 straight points at one stage.