Serena smashes Safina

Williams proves she is still the net queen

Serena Williams has never considered herself anything but the world's best player and today she is officially the No.1 again.

But the numbers that matter most to the great American are these: the 10th major singles title in her glittering career was her fourth Australian Open victory. She is playing for history now - and winning.

Williams monstered third seed Dinara Safina 6-0, 6-3 in just 59 minutes in what, as a contest, was a dreadful anti-climax after the unforgettable Nadal-Verdasco extravaganza that Rod Laver Arena had hosted the night before. The first set lasted just 22 minutes, and that was almost that, for Williams has now played 45 grand slam matches since the first set did not also mean the match.

Williams, also the reigning US Open champion, has lost just two matches in her past six visits to Melbourne Park. She acknowledged her family, including her sister and doubles partner, Venus, and her mother, Oracene, saying: "The first week was pretty tough, but we got through it."

More dubious were her thanks to Safina for "putting on a great show for women's tennis". Hmmm. The Russian had been unable emulate the 2005 achievement of her brother, Marat Safin, admitting Williams had been "just too good today - I was just a ballboy on the court today".

Williams's double-figure grand slam count gains her membership of a club that counts only five other women among its number: Margaret Court (24), Steffi Graf (22), Helen Wills Moody (19), Chris Evert (18) and Billie Jean King (12).

With Court, Evonne Goolagong, Graf and Monica Seles, Williams is also just the fifth woman in the Open era to win at least four Australian titles.

Williams was the superior player from the moment she struck a forehand winner on the opening point. The second seed was the favourite, and played like it, her edge in experience as substantial last night as the class of her play.

Safina was utterly demoralised, the tone set in her long opening service game blighted by three double-faults.

In the remaining five games of the set, she won just four points in total and none from seven on her second serve.

Williams was supreme, belting 12 winners to just two unforced errors, while the hapless Safina's ratio was four to nine.

Williams suggested that perhaps Safina would have the hunger, having almost claimed last year's French Open prize in a final lost to Ana Ivanovic.

But if there have been occasional doubts over the American's own appetite for tennis over many years of extra-curricular competition for her time and energy, then there has never been a question over her ability or competitiveness.

Safina's level picked up slightly in the second set, in which she broke in the second game but did not manage to hold serve herself until the sixth. Her frustration started to show in the next, for if she is a much-improved player mentally and emotionally, there are losses and there are thrashings. This was the latter.

It was a Williams masterclass, in which the 27-year-old lost just one of 21 points on her first serve and won 58 points to 28 overall.

Winners: 23 to 14. Domination: complete.

Already the highest money-winner in women's sport with $34.4 million, the 27-year-old earned a further $2 million for her most recent fortnight's work.

Safina had promised herself a congratulatory chocolate cake had the result been different but will have to settle for a $1 million runner-up cheque that will buy an awful lot of boiled lollies.

Williams's fourth Australian Open title was not as eventful as the third when, unseeded and overweight, she puffed and panted past a series of challengers who thought this was their chance to topple the former queen. Now Williams rules again, the reigning singles and doubles champion of Australia and the world No.1 for a 62nd week.

On last night's performance, she will stay there as long as she wishes. History should be worried.

- © Fairfax NZ News