MELBOURNE, Jan. 25 (UPI) -- Maria Sharapova won the third major title of her career Saturday, capturing the Australian Open with a 7-5, 6-3 decision over Ana Ivanovic.
The Russian star completed a dominating two weeks by winning seven matches without losing a single set in the first major event of the year.
Sharapova has now grabbed three legs of a career grand slam, adding the Australian Open crown to the titles she won at the 2004 Wimbledon and the 2006 U.S. Open. She needs only the French Open championship to complete the slam.
Among Sharapova's victims in this tournament were third-seeded Jelena Jankovic and world No. 1 Justine Henin.
Ivanovic, one of two Serbians to reach the women's semifinals, had been trying for her first major championship. But Ivanovic could manage only one service break and wilted near the end of both sets. Sharapova broke Ivanovic to take a 6-5 lead in the first set and then broke twice in a row in the second.
Another Serbian, Novak Djokovic, will play for the men's title on Sunday against unseeded Jo-Wilfried Tsonga of France.
