After two weeks of upsets, drama, and quality tennis, it was the world’s top two players meeting in the Australian Open women’s final. Serena Williams and Maria Sharapova continued a rivalry that has been one-sided in favor of the American. And after another powerful performance by Williams, she earned her 19th major championship with a 6-3 7-6 victory.

It did not take long before drama would surface. In the first set, Williams quickly broke Sharapova’s serve, but rain showed up with the American serving at 3-2. During a delay to close the roof in Rod Laver Arena, Williams returned to the locker room to address a cough that has hampered her for much of the second week. Upon return to the court, Williams was sharp, holding her serve and quickly breaking the Russian’s serve once more. Sharapova fought to draw closer in the set, regaining one service break, but Williams promptly returned the favor and closed out the first set on her opponent’s serve. The world No. 1 dictated play in the set, moving Sharapova with powerful angled shots that opened the court for winners. Meanwhile, she only yielded three winners off her opponent’s racket.

In the second set, Williams’ level of play continued to rise. Playing with confidence in the knowledge that her serve was an extremely effective weapon, Williams went for aggressive shots. However, Sharapova fought to raise her level of play, and for the first time in the match, a series of “C’mon” yells echoed throughout the arena. Williams, not to be outdone, leaned on her serve to close out games and returned the verbal volley. As Sharapova attempted to turn up the pressure on defense, Williams’ leaned on her dominant first strike to regain control, and the two competitors remained on serve. Later, in an intense game with Sharapova serving to stay in the match at 4-5, she stared at a match point after tremendous defense by an athletic Williams. But the 27-year-old Russian dug herself out, and play continued in the set. With neither player finding further inroads into her opponent’s serve, the set would be decided by a tiebreak.

In the tiebreak, Williams’ serve continued to be the story as Sharapova was often forced to guess its location. The weapon allowed the American to seemingly play with a consistent advantage. And despite a couple tight points late in the tiebreak, Williams fired an ace to win it and the match.

Williams would finish with 18 aces, bringing her best to the championship match. It was a weapon that Sharapova could not overcome.

With the title, Williams moves into second place for major titles all-time in the Open era, pulling to within just three championships of Steffi Graf. It is her sixth Australian Open title but her first since 2010.

Sharapova was gracious in defeat. “She's been the best, and as a tennis player you want to play the best,” she said of Williams.

Meanwhile, Williams gave credit to her coach, Patrick Mouratoglou, “There were moments when I didn't believe in me and you did,” she said. Putting the moment into perspective, she continued, “You never know who you can inspire and influence. So I'm so honored to be here tonight and hold this 19th trophy.”

With the victory, it was Williams’ 16th straight over Sharapova, dating back to 2005. During that streak, Williams has only dropped two sets while taking 20. Now approaching her mid-30s, she proved once more that she continues to play at a level that can produce major titles. Having won the last two Grand Slam events following her title at the US Open, she will turn her focus to Roland Garros this spring, a venue where Sharapova has seen her best results in recent memory.