Sharapova wins Australian Open

Maria Sharapova(R) of Russia and Ana Ivanovic of Serbia pose for photo with their trophies during the awarding ceremony of the women's singles final in the Australian Open Tennis Tournament in Melbourne Jan. 26, 2008.

MELBOURNE, Jan. 26 (Xinhua) -- World No. 5 Maria Sharapova seized her second chance to win the Australian Open here Saturday, defeating Serb Ana Ivanovic 7-5, 6-3.

With Ivanovic slashing the ball wide on the first match point, Sharapova sealed the victory to claim her third Grand Slam title after 91 minutes on the Australian National Day holiday.

The Russian fifth seed turned out to be the more stable player of the match, hitting 16 winners but only had 15 unforced errors compared with Ivanovic's 33.

"I was not quite close to victory last year really, only won one game. If last year someone told me I will stand here with the big one this year, I will tell them to forget it. It was really a difficult year for me last year," said the 20-year-old, who won Wimbledon in 2004 and the U.S. Open in 2006.

Sharapova was beaten in straight sets by then unseeded Serena Williams, who was sent packing 6-3, 6-4 this year by Serbian third seed Jelena Jankovic.

Shaking off the injury bothering her last year, Sharapova produced an unstoppable run for the title, brushing aside hot favorite Justine Henin in straight sets en route.

"I have gained a whole new perspective for tennis and for life with my injury and the loss..." she said.

"Today is my mother's birthday so I want to say Happy Birthday to mom, with this big fat check I will send you bunches of roses," she added.

Sharapova made the stronger start in the opening set and grabbed the momentum with a break in the fifth game when Ivanovic hit a backhand long, but three games later the set was back on an even keel thanks largely to three Sharapova double faults.

Ivanovic then hit two scorching winners in the 10th game to go up 30-0 in her opponent's service game but four subsequent errors handed the game to Sharapova and four more errors in Ivanovic's next service game provided the break Sharapova needed.

Down a set Ivanovic began the second in shaky fashion as the first game went to deuce five times, but she staved off two break points and stayed in the hunt for a time as scores were locked together at 3-3.

Ivanovic surrendered her serve in the seventh game, before Sharapova broke for a fourth time and fell to her knees in celebration when she completed victory.

Maria Sharapova of Russia reacts after winning the women's singles final against Ana Ivanovic of Serbia in the Australian Open Tennis Tournament in Melbourne Jan. 26, 2008.

Serbia's Ana Ivanovic reacts during the awarding ceremony for the women's singles final with Russia's Maria Sharapova at the 2008 Australian Open Tennis Tournament in Melbourne, Jan. 26, 2008.

Maria Sharapova of Russia drops to her knees as she celebrates victory after the women's singles final in the Australian Open Tennis Tournament in Melbourne Jan. 26, 2008.

Maria Sharapova (L) of Russia shakes hand with Ana Ivanovic of Serbia after the women's singles final in the Australian Open Tennis Tournament in Melbourne Jan. 26, 2008.

Maria Sharapova of Russia poses for photography with the trophy during the awarding ceremony of the women's singles final in the Australian Open Tennis Tournament in Melbourne Jan. 26, 2008.

Russia's Maria Sharapova kisses a trophy after beating Serbia's Ana Ivanovic during the final of the Women's singles at the Australian Open tennistournament in Melbourne, Australia, Saturday, Jan. 26, 2008. Maria Sharapova won her third career Grand Slam title.