Kazakhstani tennis player Alexander Shevchenko (97) lost to Croatian Dino Prižmič (101) in the first round of US Open 2026. This was reported by Qazaqyia.kz citing Kursiv Media.

The five-set match lasted 3 hours and 55 minutes and ended with the Croatian winning 2:6, 6:3, 6:3, 5:7, 7:5.

Shevchenko started confidently, taking the first set 6:2, but then lost two consecutive sets by the same score of 3:6. In the fourth set, the Kazakhstani fought back: Prižmič had the opportunity to serve for the match, but Shevchenko broke back and won the set 7:5.

The decisive moment came in the fifth set. Shevchenko had two match points but failed to convert either. In the end, Prižmič seized his chance and took the final set 7:5. Thus, the first head-to-head match between the two players went to the 21-year-old Croatian.

During the match, Shevchenko hit 14 aces, committed seven double faults, and converted six of 15 break points. Prižmič had eight aces, nine double faults, and converted six of 11 break points.

For Shevchenko, the US Open ended after the first round. Prižmič will face the winner of the match between Coleman Wong and Tommy Paul in the second round.

Among Kazakhstani players, three more continue in the singles draw. Alexander Bublik (16) will play American Jeffrey Wolf (248) in the first round. Elena Rybakina (2) will meet American Thea Frodin (580), and Yulia Putintseva (80) will face Swiss Belinda Bencic (12).

The US Open is an annual Grand Slam tennis tournament on hard courts. It is the last of the four majors in the calendar year.

For the second consecutive year, the US Open, first held in August 1881, starts a week earlier due to the mixed doubles tournament being scheduled. The total prize money of $108 million is a record for majors.

Since 1978, matches have been held at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in New York.

The reigning men's champion is Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz (3), who defeated Jannik Sinner in last year's final 6:2, 3:6, 6:1, 6:4. Notably, the Italian, world No. 1, withdrew from US Open 2026 due to a knee injury.

In women's singles, the 2025 champion is Belarusian Aryna Sabalenka. In the final, she defeated American Amanda Anisimova 6:3, 7:6 (7:3).