The world number one tennis player, Victoria Azarenka has protected her Australian Open title defence plans by withdrawing from the Brisbane International with a toe infection.
The 23-year-old pulled out just half an hour before her much-anticipated semi-final showdown with world number three Serena Williams yesterday.
Azarenka was the second big name to withdraw from the Brisbane event following French Open champion Maria Sharapova who has a collarbone injury.