Osaka was playing in her first match since leaving Indian Wells in tears after being heckled during her second-round defeat to Russian Veronika Kudermetova who was competing as a neutral.

But two weeks after that shock exit, Osaka showed great composure to mark her return with a 6-3, 6-4 victory over Sharma in one hour and 20 minutes at the Hard Rock Stadium in the United States.

It was Osaka’s 50th career Women’s Tennis Association 1000 win and set up a meeting against a fellow former world number one in Angelique Kerber of Germany.

"I didn't want to let anything bother me, no matter what happened," Osaka said.

"The last match I played was not the greatest memory for me.

"I wanted to prove that I could come back out here and compete, and no matter if I won or lost, to just know that I had the best attitude I could."

There was a surprise victory for 16-year-old wildcard Linda Fruhvirtova of the Czech Republic.

Fruhvirtova, ranked number 279 in the world, defeated Danka Kovinić of Montenegro 6-0. 6-4.

American Sloane Stephens, a winner of the event in 2018, passed her first-round test as she saw off Panna Udvardy of Hungary 6-4, 6-3.

The former US Open champion suffered an early break but managed to respond in fine fashion to book a place in the second round where she will face compatriot Jessica Pegula.

In an all-Czech opening-round clash, Karolína Muchová - who had been out injured since last year’s US Open - held her nerve to overcome Tereza Martincová 7-6, 7-6 in two-and-a-half hours.

Australian duo Nick Kyrgios and Thanasi Kokkinakis came out firing in the first round of the men’s singles in Miami.

After the shock retirement of women’s world number one Ashleigh Barty yesterday, Kyrgios and Kokkinakis looked to boost Australian hopes as they produced two entertaining matches.

Kyrgios proved too hot to handle as he downed France’s Adrian Mannarino 7-6, 6-3 to secure a second-round meeting with in-form Russian Andrey Rublev who is competing as a neutral.

Kokkinakis, who is set to play in the men’s doubles with Kyrgios, also emerged victorious with a 6-4, 6-2 success against another Frenchman in Richard Gasquet.

It was a disappointing day for France as Gilles Simon was defeated 7-5, 6-1 to British wildcard Jack Draper, while Benoit Paire lost 7-6, 1-6, 6-4 to Switzerland’s Henri Laaksonen.

There was double delight for Argentina as the Cerundolo brothers got off to winning starts in Miami.

Juan Manuel Cerundolo looked in impressive form as he beat Serbia’s Dusan Lajovic 6-3, 7-5.

Francisco Cerundolo had to dig deep before sealing a 7-5, 4-6, 6-3 victory over Tallon Griekspoor of The Netherlands.

Competition is due to continue tomorrow.