Tennis: Maria Sharapova sounded an ominous warning to her rivals after securing her first Australian Open title by claiming her best years are still ahead of her.
The Russian overcame Serbia's number four seed Ana Ivanovic 7-5 6-3 in hot conditions at Rod Laver Arena to add the title to her other grand slam triumphs - the 2004 Wimbledon and 2006 US Open crowns.
Sharapova could hardly have been more impressive at Melbourne Park, winning every match in straight sets.
The number five seed dropped just 32 games in the entire tournament - the fewest number of games conceded by a female singles champion at the Australian Open since Steffi Graf lost just 29 in 1988.
But in a warning to the game's other leading players, Sharapova believes she will only improve in future.
"I know I've already won three grand slams but I keep saying that I don't think I'm at the peak of my career yet," Sharapova said.
"I don't think my body has developed 100 per cent into its own and I've got many things to learn in my tennis and many things to build and improve."
Sharapova, whose victims on the way to winning her first Australian Open title included Lindsay Davenport, world number one Justine Henin and number three seed Jelena Jankovic, reckons the fact she had such a tough draw makes her latest grand slam success more satisfying than the first two.
"This was probably the toughest draw that I've ever had in a grand slam but I'm the champion here," she said. "So if I can get a tough draw and win it — hey, I'd do that any time."
The victory sees Sharapova draws level with comeback mum Davenport — who she thrashed in the second round — on three grand slam titles.
The only current female players to have enjoyed more major success than the 20-year-old Russian are Serena Williams (eight titles), Henin (seven) and Venus Williams (six).
But few players have ever won a grand slam tournament as convincingly as the Russian did over the past fortnight.