The Serb, looking to tie United States legend Andre Agassi with six crowns, hit 13 winners to 18 unforced errors on his way to a 6-3, 6-3 victory.

Although the scoreline would suggest differently, Edmund did test the 11-time Grand Slam winner and broke him in the first set.

Djokovic complemented his opponent after the match, particularly his "big forehand" and physical strength.

"He definitely does have the potential to step up and get himself to the top of the men's game," he said of the 21-year-old Edmund.

"How far he can really go, that depends on him and the people around him.

"But having Andy Murray as someone who can mentor him is a great advantage for Kyle.

"I'm sure he's using that wisely and he has a lot more time in front of him, but he has learned a lot so far."

Djokovic now faces a third-round contest in the tournament, an  ATP World Tour Masters 1000 event, with Portugal's Joao Sousa, who overcame Canada's Vasek Pospisil 6-7, 7-6, 6-2.

Roger Federer withdrew from the event today due to a stomach virus and the Swiss’ replacement, 30-year-old Argentinian Horacio Zeballos, stepped up to beat compatriot Juan Martin del Potro 6-4, 6-4.

The world number 122 recorded his first tour-level win of the year by serving smartly and avoiding the fearsome forehand of Del Potro, the 2009 US Open champion, who was hampered by his left wrist throughout the match.

Zeballos’ opponent in the third round will be Fernando Verdasco after the Spaniard registered his first win in three ATP meetings with France’s Jeremy Chardy, triumphing 6-4, 6-4.

In the women’s draw, Russian qualifier Elena Vesnina caused the biggest upset as she overcame America's former world number one Venus Williams 6-0, 6-7, 6-2.

"It's always an honour to play against Venus," said Vesnina, whose highest-ever world ranking to date is number 21 in July 2013.

"She's a great champion.

"I'm really happy that I won today."

Australian Open champion Angelique Kerber picked up her first win since triumphing in Melbourne as the German number two seed defeated Czech Republic’s Barbora Strýcová 6-1, 6-1.

There were also wins for BNP Paribas Open champion Victoria Azarenka of Belarus, who beat Puerto Rico’s Mónica Puig 6-2, 6-4, and Spain’s Garbiñe Muguruza, who produced a superb final set comeback to defeat Slovakia’s Dominika Cibulková 6-7(3), 6-3, 7-5.

Action in Miami is due to continue tomorrow.