Anna Smashnova continued to brush all aside in her Australian Open preparations with victory over top seed Tamarine Tanasugarn in the final of the Canberra Classic.

The Israeli added to her success in last week's ASB Bank Classic with a 7-5 7-6 (7-2) win over Tanasugarn for a fourth career title.

She said: "It's hard to compare wins because they are all very valuable to me. I have worked very hard and these results mean a lot to me."

Smashnova, ranked 69 in the world, is unseeded in the first Grand Slam of the year where she faces Katarina Srebotnik of Slovakia in the first round.

She said: "My goal this year was to play my best tennis and I am very happy with my start to the year."

Thailand's Tanasugarn was denied her first career WTA title, but could meet Smashnova again in the third round in the Australian Open.

She said: "I am disappointed not to win but I am playing well and I am looking forward to Melbourne.

"Today even though I lost, I learned some lessons. I would have loved to have won but I am not too disappointed. I will use what I have learned today to help me improve."