Melbourne - Serena Williams of the United States routed Russia's Dinara Safina 6-0, 6-3 on Saturday for the Australian Open title and a return to the top of the women's tennis rankings.

Williams, 27, stretched her Melbourne success run to four titles after earlier wins in 2003, 2005 and 2007. Her 10th Grand Slam singles title came a day after she lifted the doubles crown with her sister Venus Williams.

Both players had the chance to take the number one ranking from Serbia's Jelena Jankovic with a victory in the first Melbourne women's final held under floodlights, but Safina never stood a chance in her first final at the majors which lasted just 57 minutes. (dpa)