Williams routs Safina

The win propelled the 27-year-old American to top spot in the rankings and was her fourth title in Melbourne following wins in 2003, 2005 and 2007.

Williams, who is the highest prize money earner in women's sport with over US$22 million, completed the double at Melbourne Park following her women's doubles success on Friday with sister Venus.

Safina, playing in her second grand slam final and first in Melbourne, was never in the match. The usually fiery third seed looked flat from the start, struggled with her serve and basically gifting her opponent the trophy with five double faults and 21 unforced errors in a match that lasted less than an hour.

The Russian did not get a game on the board in the first set as Williams just sat back and let her self-destruct, taking the first set 6-0 in 22 minutes.

She finally stopped the rot at the start of the second set when she hit a backhand cross court winner to break the Williams serve.

It was a short-lived reprieve though as her errors continued allowing Williams to break back immediately when the Russian fired another return long. Williams comfortably held serve to love in the next then broke Safina again for a 3-1 lead.

That quickly became 4-1 as another return flew beyond the baseline and Safina took her frustrations out on her racquet.

In the sixth game the third seed strung three winners together before Williams found the net to hand her opponent the game but it was a minor setback for the American, who knew victory and her 10th grand slam title were in sight.

A couple of good forehands helped secure her own serve for a 5-2 lead and although the Russian held her serve for just the second time in the match in the next, it was a brief stay of execution.