Naomi Osaka defeated Elisabetta Cocciaretto 6-3 6-4 on Wednesday to qualify for the second round of the Miami Open.
Cocciaretto, ranked 51st in the world, had bagged the WTA 125 event in Charleston last week but Osaka proved too strong for her.
The Japanese will next lock horns with Ukrainian 15th seed Elina Svitolina, who is less than year into her comeback from maternity leave.
"I was watching her last year and I was admiring all her runs in Wimbledon," said Osaka of Svitolina's run to the semi-finals at Wimbledon. "It's going to be a really incredible honour to play against her."
Meanwhile, Sloane Stephens celebrated her 31st birthday in style by defeating Germany's Angelique Kerber 6-2 6-3.
The 2018 Miami champion Stephens took full advantage of four of her eight break point chances against Kerber and shanked serve once in the match.
"I came out with a gameplan, I was very clear with that, and I didn't really deviate from that," Stephens said during her on-court interview.
"I just tried to play the best I could and give the best effort I could and I'm happy to be through with the win."
She will face Romania's Sorana Cirstea in the next round.
Additionally, qualifier Katie Volynets shocked former Australian Open champion Sofia Kenin 6-2 4-6 6-3, while Croatia's Donna Vekic won 6-4 2-6 6-2 against Karolina Pliskova.
