Davenport, beaten by Serena Williams in last Saturday's Australian Open final in Melbourne, said she was still getting over the shattering loss but came through to beat Japan's Saori Obata 6-4, 6-3 in 64 minutes.

"It was a really great, but demanding long two weeks (in Melbourne) and today physically I finally started to feel a little bit better," said American top seed Davenport.

"It's a tough loss to get over the final of a grand slam, the toughest loss. It's tough to come a few days later and play an important tournament.

"I'm really happy that I decided to come and try to move on. It's gonna take a few weeks but hopefully not too much longer to get it out of my system."

Davenport said she was frustrated when she lost her first service games to go 3-3 in the first set, and again when she missed several set points at 5-3.

"But overall I got through it, started to serve better in the match, which is the most important on this (fast) surface, and I'm happy that I actually get to go out there for the doubles (later) today and try to hit some more balls to get used to the court," she added.

Sydney Olympic silver medallist Elena Dementieva, seeded four, overcame a shaky start that saw her hit four double faults to trail 0-2 before scoring a lopsided 6-2, 6-2 win Akiko Morigami of Japan in 63 minutes.

"I lost the first two games and then I won it 6-2, six games in a row. I usually have a slow start," said Dementieva, runner-up at Roland Garros and the US Open last season.

"But I was very comfortable on the court, because I knew that I just have to find my rhythm and I can win this match, so I think I played very well, even though I lost my game from the beginning," she added.

Dementieva said the experience of reaching the finals in the grand slams last season had helped her beat better players, but said there was room for improvement.

"Especially my serve, but for the moment I know must continue to work hard and I feel like if I do, I can do it (winning a grand slam) this year," added the 23-year-old Russian.

Japan's number two Shinobu Asagoe kept local hopes alive when last year's US Open quarterfinalist whipped Roberta Vinci of Italy 6-0, 6-2 for a place against Dementieva Friday.

Russian sixth seed Elena Likhovtseva had a hard time beating former Japan Open champion Jill Craybas of the United States 7-5, 4-6, 6-2, to book a place against Wimbledon champion Maria Sharapova of Russia, second seed.