Djokovic clinical in his Shanghai debut: the Serb overcomes a valiant Cilic in the second round
Novak Djokovic, back on the tour after his US Open defeat, demonstrated all his class by beating Marin Cilic at the Shanghai Masters 1000.
Djokovic was returning to competition. The Serb, who hadn't played since his US Open semifinal loss to Carlos Alcaraz (6-4, 7-6, 6-2), was playing his first match at the Shanghai Masters 1000 against a familiar opponent, Marin Cilic.
This was the 22nd meeting between the two players on the ATP tour, with a clear advantage for the former world number one so far (19 wins to 2).
In their first encounter since 2022, Djokovic and Cilic provided suspense in the first set. Dominant on his serve, the Croat didn't concede a single break point in 1 hour and 8 minutes of play, but he failed to convert his two break opportunities.
In the tie-break, and as often, it was Djokovic who was better. Very efficient despite only 9 winners in the set (compared to 20 for his opponent), the four-time winner of this tournament took the set in the tie-break (7 points to 2).
At 37 years old, Cilic, who has returned to the top 100, let his chance slip away. And on his only break opportunity of the entire match, Djokovic pulled away in the second set, before closing it out a few games later on his first opportunity and after saving two break-back points at 5-4 (7-6, 6-4 in 1 hour and 54 minutes).
After his victory against Nikoloz Basilashvili (6-3, 7-6), Cilic couldn't confirm. Meanwhile, Djokovic, last year's finalist, advances to the third round where he will face Yannick Hanfmann, who earlier in the day defeated Frances Tiafoe (6-7, 6-2, 6-1).
Shanghai 
