Sharapova beats Ivanovic for Australian title

MELBOURNE, Australia - Maria Sharapova won the Australian Open without losing a set, securing her third Grand Slam title with a 7-5, 6-3 victory over Ana Ivanovic on Saturday.

The fifth-seeded Sharapova was back in a final at a major for the first time since her 6-1, 6-2 loss to Serena Williams last year at Melbourne Park and determined to make amends for that against a fellow 20-year-old.

The Russian star was aggressive from the start and, apart from one bad service game in the first set that allowed Ivanovic back to 4-4, controlled the important points against a Serbian player for the second consecutive match.

Sharapova beat No. 3 Jelena Jankovic in the semifinals after ending top-ranked Justine Henin's 32-match winning streak in the quarterfinals.

Ivanovic is 0-2 in Grand Slam finals - she lost the French Open championship match to Henin last year.

Ivanovic saved two match points but sprayed a forehand wide to give Sharapova the title, to go with her wins at Wimbledon in 2004 and the 2006 U.S. Open.