CANBERRA: Malaysian squash queen Nicol David wasted little time in stamping her authority on the Australian Open in Canberra when she blitzed Australia's Samantha Davies in straight games on Tuesday.
David raced to an easy 11-3, 11-6, 11-2 first round win over her unheralded opponent to set up a clash with 17-year-old Emily Whitlock of England, 11-9, 7-11, 11-4, 11-3 winner over 15th seeded New Zealander Kylie Lindsay.
World number one David has never played in an Australian Open before but she is the overwhelming favourite to claim the title this year.
David had a rare loss at last week's Singapore Open to England's Laura Massaro but said she had already put that out of her mind.
Massaro is not playing in Canberra, but her countrywoman Jenny Duncalf was just as impressive as David as she cruised to an 11-5, 11-3, 11-3 win over Australian qualifier Vanessa Pickerd.
The remainder of the top women's seeds all progressed with dominant displays.
Third seed Rachael Grinham beat Lucie Fialova of the Czech Republic 11-6, 11-5, 11-2, Ireland's Madeline Perry (4) downed Malaysia's Siti Munirah Jusoh 11-5, 11-2, 11-3 and Kasey Brown (5) was too good for New Zealand's Amanda Cranston 11-2, 11-7, 11-3.
Ashour downed Malaysian qualifier Ivan Yuen 11-3, 11-7, 11-3, and Gaultier and Barker both overcame Australian challengers.
Barker was too steady for Aaron Frankcomb, winning 11-6, 11-8, 11-7 while Gaultier was in blistering form as he downed world number 14 Cameron Pilley 11-6, 11-8, 11-7.
David raced to an easy 11-3, 11-6, 11-2 first round win over her unheralded opponent to set up a clash with 17-year-old Emily Whitlock of England, 11-9, 7-11, 11-4, 11-3 winner over 15th seeded New Zealander Kylie Lindsay.
World number one David has never played in an Australian Open before but she is the overwhelming favourite to claim the title this year.
David had a rare loss at last week's Singapore Open to England's Laura Massaro but said she had already put that out of her mind.
Massaro is not playing in Canberra, but her countrywoman Jenny Duncalf was just as impressive as David as she cruised to an 11-5, 11-3, 11-3 win over Australian qualifier Vanessa Pickerd.
The remainder of the top women's seeds all progressed with dominant displays.
Third seed Rachael Grinham beat Lucie Fialova of the Czech Republic 11-6, 11-5, 11-2, Ireland's Madeline Perry (4) downed Malaysia's Siti Munirah Jusoh 11-5, 11-2, 11-3 and Kasey Brown (5) was too good for New Zealand's Amanda Cranston 11-2, 11-7, 11-3.
Ashour downed Malaysian qualifier Ivan Yuen 11-3, 11-7, 11-3, and Gaultier and Barker both overcame Australian challengers.
Barker was too steady for Aaron Frankcomb, winning 11-6, 11-8, 11-7 while Gaultier was in blistering form as he downed world number 14 Cameron Pilley 11-6, 11-8, 11-7.
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