Serena Williams powered her way to her third and possibly most satisfying Australian Open title on Saturday, proving far too strong and powerful for Russian number one seed Maria Sharapova and winning a one-sided final 6-1, 6-2 at Melbourne's Rod Laver Arena.

Sharapova was left looking like a glorified spectator at times with the former women's world number one taking only 63-minutes to complete her victory by playing some of the finest tennis of her career.

Without a title since her Melbourne Park success in 2005 and entering the tournament at a lowly ranking of 81, Williams became the first unseeded Australian Open women's champion since Chris O'Neil won the crown at Kooyong in 1978. The result was a clear statement from Williams that she is back to her best after two injury-riddled seasons -- the result will give the top ten plenty to think about with Williams knocking on the door again.

Sharapova was tentative with her serve, committing six double-faults, but like Tommy Haas in the men's semi-final on Friday, the Russian did not play as badly as the scoreline suggests. But on this form Williams was unstoppable and switched on from the opening point with some brutal serving and punishing ground strokes that left Sharapova bewildered.

At no stage in either set was Sharapova in the hunt, with Williams racing  to a 5-0 lead in the first before the Russian could get on the scoreboard, and in the second set she stormed to 4-0 up before Sharapova broke her duck. The American claimed the championship with a cross-court winner triggering joyous, if somewhat subdued celebrations.

Sharapova can take some solace in regaining the world number one ranking from Justine Henin-Ardenne, while Williams, in winning her eighth Grand Slam title, sees her ranking shoot back to a creditable number 14.