American James Blake successfully defended his Medibank International title in Sydney on Saturday after a solid victory over former world number one Carlos Moya.

The third seed took the first set with relative ease, 6-4, but found himself pegged back as Spaniard Moya snatched a crucial break to take the second 7-5.

But Blake made sure of his eighth career title with a comprehensive 6-1 victory in the deciding set, as 30-year-old Moya failed to match the energy levels of his opponent.

Blake and Moya will meet again in the first round of the Australian Open, which starts on Monday.