Melbourne: Serena Williams won the women's singles title at the Australian Open on Saturday, defeating sister Venus 7-6 (7/4), 3-6, 6-4 in the final.

The 21-year-old world number one became only the fifth woman to hold all four Grand Slam titles at the same time after her sister over hit a backhand which sailed out in the 10th game of the decisive set.

Victory for top-seeded Serena adds the Australian Open crown to her victories at the French Open, Wimbledon and US Open last season.

She had looked the stronger of the two players for much of the 2hr 22 min final, as her second-seed sister's serving accuracy deserted her. Serena punished Venus' weak second serve, reeling off a series of forehand winners on her way to her fifth Grand Slam title.

The final went into a decisive third set after Venus had fought back to level in the second. She scored the crucial service break in the sixth game, holding off a determined rally from her sister, who had taken the game to deuce after being 0-40 down.

Venus hung on for the break and took a 5-2 lead by holding serve in the next game. Although Serena held serve to reduce the margin, Venus closed out the set in her next service game to force the decider.

The opening set had gone to Serena when her sister failed to hold her nerve as she served for the set at 5-4 after scoring the second of two service breaks.

Serena ruthlessly exploited her opponent's suspect second serve, breaking back immediately to level at 5-5. Even Venus' only successful first serve of the game was murdered by her sister's forehand.

Both sisters held each other's serve to send the set into a tiebreak. Serena soon took command of the tie-break. She raced to a 6-2 lead and although Venus clawed back to points, a forehand error gave her sister the set seven points to four.

The final was played under a roof with the tournament's extreme heat policy in force.

Agencies