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The words 'demolition' and 'slaughter' came to mind. Serena Williams produced one of the most lopsided finals of a tennis major for many years in dismissing world No 1 Maria Sharapova 6-1, 6-2 at Melbourne yesterday.
Playing with determination etched on her face and an almost angry, sullen
demeanour, a focused Williams simply blew Sharapova off the court with a barrage of winners. It was all over in 63 minutes.
It was the biggest hiding seen at an Australian Open women's final since Steffi Graf beat Aranxta Sanchez-Vicario 6-0, 6-2 in 1994. It was also the biggest loss in a Grand Slam event since Justine Henin-Hardenne (whose absence from this tournament meant Sharapova moved in to No 1) beat Mary Pierce 6-1, 6-1 at the French Open in 2005.
Her win also sent the statisticians to the archives trying to find the last player, men's or women's, who had won a Grand Slam final while ranked lower in the world than Williams' 81. The consensus seemed to be Goran Ivanisevic who won Wimbledon in 2001, after entering as a wild card when ranked 125th in the world.
Before the final, Williams - who played only four tournaments in 2006 - had talked about how she liked to use the negative comments of her doubters to gee herself up and prove them wrong. There was little doubt that was what she did yesterday.
In the first few games, she hit long a few times before finding her range. But it was clear she was intent on generating tremendous racket speed and power to unsettle Sharapova.
It worked.
The Russian made a much more hesitant start and was 5-0 down before she had a decent sweat up.
Her first serve was misfiring and Williams happily blasted her second serves for winners. As they progressed deeper into the match, Williams' magnificent down-the-line backhand was brought into play, giving Sharapova no chance with its power and depth.
The effect on Sharapova will be interesting. This was not so much a beating as a clinical dismemberment.
Because of the delayed nature of the sport's rankings system, Sharapova will move to world No 1 when the rankings are adjusted at the end of this month.
Seldom can a world No 1 have arrived at the top of international tennis bearing such deep wounds as those inflicted by Williams.
Many of the games were won to love or with few Sharapova points, although she did manage a break point in the fifth game before Williams extended her lead to 5-0.
Sharapova, the 2004 Wimbledon champion and 2006 US Open winner, finally stopped the rot when she held to love to make it 5-1.
The first rally of that game saw Williams at her fired-up best, appearing to mouth "You'll pay for that" after Sharapova blasted a smash into her body.
Pay for it she did with another service break at the start of the second set as her hopes of becoming her country's first women's Australian Open champion disappeared in a blaze of stunning Williams strokes.
Sharapova briefly gave herself a chance in the second set when she looked about to produce a fightback. She had already been broken once and, at 2-0 down, knew a second service break would end any comeback.
She served her first and only ace of the match to hold game point but followed it with a lame double-fault (one of five) and Williams crushed her to take an unbeatable lead.
As soon as the win was complete, Williams' previously stern face relaxed into smiles as she rolled on her back and punched the air.
"I would like to dedicate this win to my sister who is not here, her name is Yetunde," said a tearful Williams. "I said if I won this, it would be for her."
Yetunde was shot dead in Los Angeles in 2003, aged 31.
Williams has now claimed the Australian Open crown three times, having also won in 2003 and 2005.
As a result of this win, Williams will be sitting at 14 in the world rankings after entering the tournament listed at No 81.
A rueful Sharapova said she knew many people had not been expecting Williams to make the final.
"But I expected her to be there," she said. "I know what she is capable of - she is an amazing champion and she has shown it here many times.
"I am looking forward to playing her many more times and maybe even winning a few - I hope...".