Sharapova takes Australian title

Having lost out to Serena Williams in the final 12 months previously, the fifth seed produced a powerful performance to see off a spirited Ivanovic - who lost the French Open to Justine Henin last year - in straight sets and take the season's opening grand slam title.

Afterwards Sharapova admitted she could never have envisaged claiming her third grand slam title after a 2007 that was blighted by injury, saying: "I wasn't even close to winning last year. It's incredible. If somebody would've told me during the middle of last year I'd be here I'd have said 'forget it'."

Sharapova was the first to gain the upper hand when she broke Ivanovic in the fifth game of the first set after the Serb scooped a backhand long.

Both players then held serve before Ivanovic had a chance to break back at 30-40, which she spurned after hitting a backhand into the net. However, in the ensuing deuce, Sharapova produced consecutive double faults to give away her advantage.

Ivanovic took a 5-4 lead and had the Russian on the ropes at 0-30 but a combination of strong serving and some poor shots from the fourth seed allowed Sharapova to escape.

Ivanovic then faced two break points on her own serve and although she saved the first, a return that landed beyond the baseline handed Sharapova a decisive advantage.

And the fifth seed went on to take the first set as she converted the first of three set points when her opponent's low forehand did not make it over the net.

The second set went with serve until at 3-3, the Russian took control. A beautiful forehand pass set up 0-30 on Ivanovic`s serve and although the Serb battled back, a double fault and then a forehand that ended up in the net saw Sharapova take a 4-3 lead.

She consolidated that advantage in her next service game before a punishing forehand gave her three match points on Ivanovic's serve and Sharapova duly completed victory when the Serb sent a forehand wide.