Novak Djoković defeated Rinky Hijikata 6–0, 7–6 in the first round of the Miami Masters on hard court. The result confirmed pre-match expectations, with Djoković the heavy favourite at 1.11 odds against Hijikata's 7.95. The Serbian top seed dismantled his Australian opponent in the opening set before facing stiffer resistance in the second, ultimately prevailing in the tie-break to advance without dropping a set. The dominant performance underscores Djoković's early-season form and positioning as the tournament's primary threat as he progresses deeper into Miami.