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After breaking serve early in the second set, Djokovic fought
off two break points in the final game before sealing victory
with his 10th ace.
It was his first match since losing to Carlos Alcaraz in the
U.S. Open semifinals.
“I struggled to find my rhythm from the baseline,” Djokovic
said. “I (lacked) some matches, my last one was at the U.S.
Open, so I got a really tough opener against Marin, who when he
is feeling the ball is so dangerous and can beat anybody.
“He didn’t give me time to breathe, so I dug myself out of
trouble with good serving, which makes me happy.”
Djokovic next faces German qualifier Yannick Hanfmann, who beat
American Frances Tiafoe 6-7 (9), 6-2, 6-1.
Sixth-seeded Ben Shelton, who hadn't played since a left
shoulder injury at the U.S. Open, was beaten by David Goffin
6-2, 6-4.
Goffin broke serve not long after play resumed after a short
rain suspension.
Earlier in the week, Shelton said that despite the five-week
layoff, he still hoped to qualify for the ATP Finals in Turin,
Italy, beginning Nov. 9.
Shelton is sixth in the points race for Turin, with eight making
the finals. But his loss on Friday will put a dent in those
ambitions.
Fifth-seeded Taylor Fritz edged past Fabian Marozsan of Hungary
2-6, 7-6 (4), 7-6 (1).
The top-seeded players in Shanghai all received first-round
byes.
Jannik Sinner, who won the China Open in Beijing on Wednesday,
is scheduled to play on Saturday. Top-ranked Alcaraz, who beat
Fritz in the Japan Open final, announced after his win in Tokyo
that he would not play in Shanghai due to minor ailments.
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