Maria Sharapova overcame Ana Ivanovic 7-5 6-3 to win the Australian Open women's title in Melbourne on Saturday and erase the heartbreak of a year ago.

Having lost out to Serena Williams in the final 12 months previously, the fifth seed produced a powerful performance to see off a spirited Ivanovic in straight sets and take the season's opening grand slam title.

For the Serb, it was a second final disappointment having lost out to Justine Henin in the French Open last year.

Sharapova was the first to gain the upper hand when she broke Ivanovic in the fifth game of the first set after the Serb scooped a backhand long.

Both players then held serve before Ivanovic had a chance to break back at 30-40, which she spurned after hitting a backhand into the net.

However, in the ensuing deuce, Sharapova produced consecutive double faults to give away her advantage.

Ivanovic took a 5-4 lead and had the Russian on the ropes at 0-30 but a combination of strong serving and some poor shots from the fourth seed saw Sharapova escape.

Ivanovic then faced two break points on her own serve and although she saved the first, a return that landed beyond the baseline handed Sharapova a decisive advantage.

And the fifth seed went on to take the first set as she converted the first of three set points when her opponent's low forehand did not make it over the net.

Ivanovic was immediately under pressure at the start of the second, managing to hold her serve after a lengthy deuce thanks to some incredible recovery play.

Sharapova had no such problems and the set went with serve until at 3-3, the Russian took control.

A beautiful forehand pass set up 0-30 on Ivanovic's serve and although the Serb battled back, a double fault and then a forehand that ended up in the net saw Sharapova take a 4-3 lead.

She consolidated that advantage in her next service game before a punishing forehand gave her three match points on Ivanovic's serve and Sharapova duly completed victory when the Serb sent a forehand wide.

Sharapova admitted she could never have envisaged claiming her third grand slam title after a 2007 that was blighted by injury.

"I wasn't even close to winning last year," she said.

"It's incredible. If somebody would've told me during the middle of last year I'd be here I'd have said 'forget it'."

The Russian also had words of encouragement for her opponent and

expects it to be the first of many final encounters.

"Ana has a wonderful future ahead of her and I'm sure we'll play many times," the 20-year-old added.

"This was probably the toughest draw that I've ever had in a grand slam but I'm the champion here," she said. "So if I can get a tough draw and win it - hey, I'd do that any time."

Sharapova also drew enormous satisfaction from the way she rebounded from last year's 6-1 6-2 loss to Serena Williams in the 2007 Melbourne Park decider.

"It's satisfying, period, to win a grand slam and to win one that you've never won before - especially after some of the tough losses that I've had," she said.

"But looking back at those (losses), it makes it a little more special as well."