Find out what happened when Paul Kimmage asked Maria Sharapova if she would pose for Playboy

Click here to launch our Sharapova and Ivanovic slideshow

Maria Sharapova overcame Ana Ivanovic 7-5, 6-3 to win the Australian Open women's title in Melbourne, proving that she is back to her best and will once again be a force to be reckoned this year.

Sharapova was hampered by injury for much of 2007 but now pain-free, she produced consistently excellent tennis over an impressive fortnight which duly saw her rewarded with her third grand-slam title.

"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.

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.

It was a second final disappointment for the Serbian, having lost out to Justine Henin in the French Open last year.

Sharapova was the first to gain the upper hand when she broke in the fifth game of the first set after Ivanovic 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, which she duly converted on the first of three set points when her opponent's low forehand found the net.

Ivanovic was immediately under pressure at the start of the second set, 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 Serbian battled back, a double fault and then a forehand that ended up in the net saw Sharapova take a 4-3 lead.

Sharapova consolidated that advantage in her next service game before a punishing forehand gave her three match points on Ivanovic's serve, completing victory when a forehand from her opponent drifted wide.