Serena Williams defeated by 'injury-battling' Victoria Azarenka in Thai exhibition match

World number one Serena Williams has been defeated 7-5, 6-3 by the second-seeded Victoria Azarenka, who battled back from an injury-plagued season, in the Thailand exhibition match on Saturday.

Azarenka limped out of Wimbledon in the early stages with a knee injury and failed to reach the WTA Championships semi-finals in Turkey in October as she battled a lower back injury, and in contrast, Williams enjoyed a match record of 78 wins, claimed the season-ending WTA Championships title and became the oldest No.1 player.

According to Sport24, the Belarusian is hoping that her victory in Thailand will set the stage for a strong performance at the upcoming Australian Open, saying that it is a great warm up before going to compete and start the year.

Azarenka will start her 2014 season with a return to Brisbane where she was forced to withdraw from the semi-finals a year earlier due to a toe infection on her right foot, the report added.