The 32-year-old Pole, ranked world No. 32 by the Women's Tennis Association (WTA), overcame the 93rd-ranked Japanese 6-1, 6-4 in their first-round encounter on Monday.
Linette will next play China's Zheng Qinwen, the finalist of this year's Australian Open.
Meanwhile, Poland's world No. 1 Iga Świątek, who triumphed in Doha last year and in 2022, was set to face Romania's Sorana Cîrstea in the second round of the Doha Open later on Monday.
The Polish star had a bye in the first round.
The women's competition at the 2024 Qatar Open runs until Sunday.
(gs)
Source: PAP, Canal+