MIAMI, FL, USA -- No.11 seed Johanna Konta of Great Britain got her Miami Open title defense off to a flying start on Friday, dispatching Belgium’s Kirsten Flipkens, 6-4, 6-3, to advance to the third round.

One year removed from winning the biggest title of her career, Konta has not reached a quarterfinal since her opening event of the season at the Brisbane International. But she looked in fine form as she stepped back onto the courts in Miami, taking out the former Top 20 player Flipkens in 84 minutes.

Konta had a wonderful serving day, delivering eight aces, winning 76 percent of points on her first serve, and taking a strong 65 percent of points on her second serve as well. The British No.1 only faced one break point in the entire match. Konta also hit 27 winners, outpacing her 23 unforced errors.

In the third round, Konta will take on the winner of the match between American wild card Bernarda Pera and another Belgian, No.22 seed Elise Mertens.

Both players held routinely to 2-2 before a marathon game on the Flipkens serve started the tense portion of the opening set. Flipkens successfully staved off five break points in a 21-point game to hold for 3-2, and was noticeably thrilled after fighting to stay on serve.

But the defending champion was unfazed by the Belgian's heroics. Konta held for 3-3 and then took her chance in the very next Flipkens service game, breaking the Belgian at love with a screaming forehand winner.

That would be the only break of the set, as Flipkens was never able to get a look on Konta's terrific serve in the opening frame. The Belgian came closest when Konta needed three chances to serve out the set at 5-4, but another forehand winner by the Brit sealed her one-set advantage.

The second set started in a similar vein as the first, with both women holding comfortably to 2-2. But this time, Konta started her dominance earlier by breaking the Flipkens serve at love in that game, and finding herself up a break.

Flipkens very nearly put the match right back on serve, grasping her only break point of the match after Konta hit a backhand error while serving at 3-2, deuce. But the 2017 Miami Open titleholder made it through that game to hold for 4-2.

That would be the last chance for the Belgian. Trailing 3-5, Flipkens made a number of unforced errors to present Konta with a double match point opportunity. One final wide forehand by Flipkens provided Konta with a quick opening match, after a first-round bye, to begin her journey to a potential championship repeat.

More to follow...