The 18-year-old second seed triumphed 4-6, 6-4, 6-1 at the Hard Rock Stadium as action begun at the Association of Tennis Professionals World Tour Masters 1000 event.

Auger-Aliassime, who fell in the first round of qualifying last year to the United States' Mackenzie McDonald, will play another Italian, Paolo Lorenzi, for a place in the main draw.

Lorenzi defeated Belgium’s Ruben Bemelmans 7-5, 3-6, 7-6 today.

Among today’s other winners was fourth seed McDonald, overcoming Canada’s Peter Polansky 7-6, 7-5, as well as third-seeded compatriot Reilly Opelka, who edged past Switzerland's Henri Laaksonen 7-6, 7-6.

Also tasting victory was France’s Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, on the comeback trail from knee surgery last April, as he beat Czech Republic’s Lukáš Rosol 6-3, 6-4.

Top seed Radu Albot of Moldova, meanwhile, defeated Italy’s Gianluigi Quinzi 7-6, 6-0.

In the Women's Tennis Association Premier Mandatory Tour event, Japan's Misaki Doi and Nao Hibino upset the top two seeds in the first round of qualifying.

Former top-30 player Doi needed nearly two-and-a-half hours and had to save four match points spanning two sets before overcoming number one seed Anastasia Potapova of Russia, 3-6, 7-6, 7-6.

Hibino also came back from a set down, eliminating number two seed Eugenie Bouchard of Canada 4-6, 6-0, 6-4 in one hour and 46 minutes.

Other high seeds made it through their opening matches. 

Number three seed Dalila Jakupović of Slovenia beat France's Fiona Ferro, 1-6, 6-3, 6-2, while number four seed Viktorija Golubic of Switzerland advanced when India's Karman Kaur Thandi had to retire while trailing 6-0, 3-0.

Action in Miami is due to continue tomorrow.

Men's and women's qualifying will conclude and the first round of the women's main draw will get underway.