Williams led 4-0 before Sharapova held again, avoiding the most lopsided women’s final ever in the Australian Open.

Serving for the match, Williams fired two aces to earn triple match point, then finished it off in 1 hour, 3 minutes with the backhand winner.

With occasional showers and a strong wind outside, the roof was closed on packed Rod Laver Arena.

Williams missed nine tournaments immediately after losing in the third round at the Australian Open last year and played only 16 matches in 2006, when she slumped as low as No. 140 in the rankings.

Her win over No. 5 Nadia Petrova in the third round this time was her first over a top-10 player since she won the 2005 tournament.

Slide show Super Sharapova Check out images of Maria Sharapova's career on, off court. more photos

Sharapova came into the match on a 13-match winning streak in Grand Slams, having won the U.S. Open in September. After winning her first-round match in three sets, Sharapova didn’t drop a set in five rounds before the final.

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