Victoria Azarenka became the first Belarusian to win a grand slam singles title when she claimed the Australian Open title with a crushing 6-3 6-0 victory over Russia's Maria Sharapova on Saturday.

The 22-year-old's first grand slam title also means that she will become the new world No 1 when the WTA rankings are released on Monday.

While virtually carbon copies of each other in terms of height and playing style, Azarenka had won the two previous finals between the pair, both on hardcourts, and the players' entrances could not have been more prophetic.