Casey Dellacqua has continued her solid early-season form on the WTA circuit with a straight-sets win in the first round of the Miami Masters.

The Australian had few troubles in accounting for Switzerland’s Stefanie Voegele 6-3 6-2 on Tuesday less than a week after a six-match winning streak ended in the quarter-finals of the Indian Wells Masters.

Ranked world No.130 last year, Dellacqua has moved to No.56 and performing close to the levels that got her into the top 40 in 2008.

The 29-year-old will face either Indy de Vroome or Anna Schmiedlova in the second round while compatriot Sam Stosur, who had a first-round bye, lines up against Sara Errani.

World No.1 Serena Williams will begin her campaign to defend her Miami Masters title on Thursday.

The 32-year-old last played while suffering back pains in a semi-final loss a month ago in Dubai, going down to Alize Cornet of France.

Williams will open up against Yaroslava Shvedova, who beat former French Open champion Francesca Schiavone 6-4 6-2 on Tuesday.

In other first-round results, Ukrainian Elina Svitolina put out American Bethanie Mattek-Sands 6-3 3-6 6-3 and Caroline Garcia defeated Canadian Aleksandra Wozniak 6-3 7-5.