The former world number six triumphed over Tunisian opponent Malek Jaziri 6-2, 6-2 in 81 minutes.

He will now seek to gain just his second victory in 12 attempts against 2013 and 2015 champion Djokovic.

Tenth seed David Goffin was another rampant winner as first round action begin.

He overcame fellow Belgian Steve Darcis 6-2, 6-1 in 72 minutes to set-up a second round clash with either a qualifier or Nicolas Almagro of Spain.

"I played well from the start,” said Goffin.

“We had long rallies [and] I was solid, I made him run a lot. 

"I was playing very well tactically, I was playing the right way and I’m very happy with that."

Portugal's João Sousa hit six aces past Florian Mayer in a 6-3, 6-2 win elsewhere today.

He will now face either Uruguay's Pablo Cuevas or Serbia's Viktor Troicki in his next match.

Britain's Andy Murray is returning from missing his country's Davis Cup defeat to France to start as top seed for an event he has never won.

He receives a bye through the first round and will face either Gilles Muller of Luxembourg or Tommy Robredo of Spain in the second.

Fourth seed and nine-time champion Rafael Nadal will face the winner of an all-British opening round clash between Kyle Edmund and Dan Evans.

Nadal is positioned in the bottom half of the draw, so could meet Djokovic in the semi-finals.

Third seed Stan Wawrinka, fifth-ranked Marin Čilić and seventh seed Jo-Wilfried Tsonga are among Murray's likely challengers in the top half.

In form Roger Federer and Japan's Kei Nishikori are each absent for the first major test of the clay court season.

First round matches are due to continue tomorrow.