Djokovic, who was exempted from playing the first round like the top eight seeds, faced great resistance from the Russian ascendant from the qualifiers in their first confrontation, specifically in the first set, during which he needed a tie-break to settle it 7-6 (7-5), before winning. The second easily 6-2 and ends the match in his favor in an hour and 48 minutes.
The 35-year-old Serbian returned to the yellow ball stadiums after the US authorities prevented him from entering their lands because he did not receive the coronavirus vaccine last month to participate in the Indian Wells and Miami Masters (1000).
Djokovic, who won the title in 2013 and 2015, will meet in the next round with one of the Italians, Lorenzo Musetti XVI, and the winner over the Serbian Miomir Kismanovic 7-6 (7-1), 6-0, or Luca Nardi, the ascendant from the qualifiers and the winner of the Montenegrin Valentin Vacherot, who is participating with a wildcard 7- 5 and 7-5.
In the second match, Rublev needed two hours and 15 minutes to clear the Munnar hurdle.
Rublev will meet in the next round with his compatriot Karen Khachanov ninth, the winner of the Spaniard Alejandro Davidovich Fokina 6-2, 6-2, or the winner in the match against Briton Daniel Evans or Belarusian Ilya Ivashka, who came out of the qualifiers.