Serena Takes Opening Set In Australian Open Final

Safina, playing in just her second grand slam final, had a nervous start making three double faults in her first service game.

Second seed Serena Williams wasted little energy to take the first set 6-0 in the Australian Open women's final against Russia's Dinara Safina on Saturday.

Williams, who is seeking her 10th grand slam singles title, also won the doubles on Friday with older sister Venus.

Safina, playing in just her second grand slam final, had a nervous start making three double faults in her first service game, the third of which handed Williams a 2-0 lead.

The pattern continued on Safina's second service game when the aggressive American bludgeoned winners and forced the Russian to run around the court and she broke to love.

Williams then held to love to take a 5-0 lead and broke Safina again in the sixth game on her first set point when the Russian smacked the ball into the net.

Safina won a total of just eight points in the set.