Serena Williams of the U.S. hugs her trophy after winning her women's singles final match against Russia's Dinara Safina at the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne January 31, 2009.

Serena Williams thrashed Russia's Dinara Safina 6-0, 6-3 to win her fourth Australian Open title yesterday, bringing up her 10th Grand Slam and reclaiming the world number one ranking on the way.

In one of the most lop-sided deciders ever, the American utterly dominated third seed Safina, allowing her opponent to win only eight points in the first set and claiming the championship in less than an hour.

“I'm so excited ... I clearly love playing here and I get great support here. I don't get that every place I go,” Williams said, after winning the first women's night final played in the Rod Laver Arena.

Williams, the second seed, emphatically backed up her pre-tournament comments that she was the best women's tennis player in the world and will now officially reclaim the top ranking from Serbia's Jelena Jankovic.
- AFP