Roger Federer has left the tennis world wondering what next for the Swiss freak after he ended the giant-killing run of Fernando Gonzalez with another straight-sets clinic in the Australian Open final at Melbourne Park.

Federer survived a first-set fright to motor to a commanding 7-6 (7-2) 6-3 6-4 triumph to earn his third Open crown - and 10th grand slam title in total, placing the nigh-unbeatable 25-year-old equal fifth alongside American Bill Tilden on the list of all-time major champions.

Only living legends Pete Sampras, with 14, Roy Emerson (12), Rod Laver (11) and Bjorn Borg (11) remain above the Swiss master.

But, at this unprecedented rate, he could surpass the lot as early as next year.

In denying Gonzalez a special place in history as the first Chilean grand slam champion, Federer calmly and efficiently added another page to his expanding log of personal accomplishments.

He is the first man since Borg at the 1980 French Open to romp through a grand slam draw without dropping a set and the first in the open era to have won three straight majors on two occasions.

His 10th victory from 10 encounters with Gonzalez also gave Federer a career-best 36 straight wins.

The peerless Swiss hasn't lost since falling to British teenager Andy Murray last August.

Even with claycourt king Rafael Nadal on the scene, few are backing against the world No.1 completing the rare grand slam sweep of Australian Open, French Open, Wimbledon and US Open titles in 2007.

"It's something he's very, very capable of winning," Laver, the last man to achieve the monumental feat back in 1969, said before Federer's semi-final destruction of Andy Roddick.

"I think he's got a great chance of being the best ever." Contesting his record seventh consecutive major final against a red-hot opponent appearing in his first, Federer made a shaky start.

He recovered from love-30 down to hold serve in the opening game and continuing to struggle in the windy conditions, making a series of unforced errors off his usually flawless forehand wing.

His uncharacteristically high mistake rate gifted Gonzalez two break points in the ninth game but the Chilean only needed one, unleashing a scintillating backhand drive past the net-rushing Swiss to strike the first blow of the match.

Gonzalez, though, paid a heavy price for squandering two set points serving at 40-15 the very next game.

Federer saved the first with a forehand volley into an open court and then Gonzalez dumped a forehand return into the net on the second.

It was a costly, costly error.

Federer broke back when he lured Gonzalez into the net with a vicious slice return and then rifled a backhand straight through the Chilean before holding easily for 6-5, only to waste four set-points of his own with more baseline blunders.

He needn't have worried, the top seed racing to 5-0 in the tiebreak and closing the set out after 65 minutes with an explosive off-forehand winner.

Gonzalez, 26, required a medical time-out before the start of the second set to receive treatment for shoulder soreness but the South American seemed unhindered as he held his next three service games comfortably.

But, as is his wont, Federer seized at 3-3, raising his brilliant game to establish a pair of break points and then ripping the heart out of Gonzalez when the Chilean's desperate drop-shot attempt drew another clean winner from the defending champion.

Federer locked up the second set in precisely half the time as the first with a thunderous ace down the middle to take a stranglehold on the match.

The third set was a virtual carbon copy of the second, Federer breaking the 10th seed at 3-3 and then running off with the championship with a flurry of breathtaking winners.

He brought up match point with a forehand screamer and smoked a backhand down the line to complete the rout in two hours and 20 minutes.

"He reminds me so much of the great player of my generation - Pete Sampras, who would cruise and wait and then get to 4-all and then you'd feel his presence," said commentator and two-time Open champion Jim Courier.

"Next to do on his to-do list? He needs the (calender-year) slam, he needs to get past 14 (majors), which I think he will.

"He needs the French. He needs to do that, and I believe he will get it.

"We are witnessing history here with Federer."

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