Roger Federer was crowned Australian Open champion on Sunday as the final proved a match too far for comeback kid Marat Safin.

Federer turned in a superb performance to win 7-6 6-4 6-2 on the Rod Laver Arena and lift the trophy for the first time.

Safin, who missed much of last season due to a career-threatening wrist injury, had beaten Andy Roddick and Andre Agassi to reach the Melbourne showdown, but he had no answers to Federer's game.

The second seed, who will become world number one for the first time when the new rankings are published on Monday, outrallied Safin from the back of the court, blunting the Russian's power game.

Safin had served 33 aces in his defeat of Agassi, but Federer read his delivery much better, restricting him to just three, while serving eight himself.

Four breaks of serve were shared in the opening set which Federer edged on a tie-break by seven points to three.

There had been little to separate the pair up until then, but as the second set wore on, the Wimbledon champion began to take control.

He secured the crucial break of the second set in the fifth game and firebrand Safin could see the match slipping away, picking up a code violation for smashing a racquet soon after.

Safin's state of mind was summed up when he stepped up to serve to the wrong court at one stage and when Federer served out for a two-set lead, he was staring into the abyss.

Safin - also a losing finalist in Melbourne two years ago - had never fought back to win from two sets down before and that wasn't about to change.

His arduous route to the final seemed to be weighing heavily on him as Federer took the match by the scruff of the neck, gaining a double break in the third set and clinching victory after two hours and 15 minutes when his opponent sent a forehand long.

Unlike Wimbledon, there were no tears on court this time as Federer received his trophy.

"What a great start to the year for me to win the Australian Open and to become number one in the world," he said.

"I put myself in a really good position when I won the Masters and to fulfil my dream of winning the Open and reaching number one, particularly in a stadium with some mixed memories because of Davis Cup, means so much to me.

"Congratulations to Marat. He has been on court way longer than me (this fortnight) and it is great to see him back because he is a great guy and great player."

Safin apologised to the crowd for not putting up more of a fight, but admitted the 27 sets of tennis he had played prior to the final had cost him.

"I am really sorry, I just ran out of gas today," said the world number 86.

"I am glad to be in the finals again and play my best tennis after so many injuries last year.

"Thank you very much for helping me all these two weeks. I look forward to seeing you again next year."

He added: "I would like to say congratulations Roger, first of all with becoming the number one player in the world and with beating me today.

"It was really impressive tennis these last two weeks - well done."