Unseeded American player Serena Williams crushed top seed Maria Sharapova 6-1, 6-2 in the Australia Open final at Rod Laver Arena to win her third women's singles title on Saturday.

Williams, a former world No.1 on the comeback trail after injury, humbled the No. 1 seeded Russian player in one hour and three minutes with a perfect performance.

The American produced a scintillating display of power tennis, breaking Sharapova twice in the opening set to take control of the match.

Williams then broke the Russian again in the first game of the second set and never looked back.

The American thanked her family and entourage but became tearful as she dedicated the win to her late sister Yetunde Price, who was shot in Los Angeles in 2003.

"I just love her so much," she said.

"A couple of weeks ago, I said if I win this I would dedicate it to Yetunde."

It is Williams' eighth Grand Slam singles title of the 25-year-old's career, and the third Australian Open championship win after she claimed previous titles here in 2003 and 2005.

Williams became only the second unseeded female to win the championship in the Open period after Australia's Chris O'Neill in 1978.

Sharapova said she had a feeling Williams would defy the odds and make the final.

"You can never underestimate her," Sharapova said.

"I know a lot of you never expected her to be in the final, but I definitely did.

"She's an amazing champion and I look forward to playing her many more times - and winning a few, I hope," she said.

Sharapova famously defeated Williams in the 2004 Wimbledon final at the age of just 17.

In their last meeting before the final, Williams claimed a rugged 2-6, 7-5, 8-6 win in the 2005 Australian Open semi-final.

Williams pocketed 1,281,000 Australian dollars (about US$1 million) for her victory while Sharapova received 640,500 as the runner-up.
 
(Xinhua News Agency January 27, 2007)