However, in his first match in Miami since 2019, the 37-year-old showed no signs of being distracted as Hijikata was swiftly swatted aside.

The 24-time Grand Slam champion broke in the second game of the match and never looked back, winning the first set to love in 28 minutes.

It was more of a contest in the second, but Djokovic dominated in the tie-break to move a step closer to a seventh Miami Open title.

"I was playing really well, I mean on a very high level from the beginning, I knew exactly what I wanted to do tactically," he said.

"Obviously it's just the first match but the way I felt on the court and the way I played is really encouraging."