(CNN) -- World No. 1 Serena Williams' preparations for her Australian Open title defense suffered a late blip when she was beaten in the final of the Sydney International by Elena Dementieva on Friday. 

The American, who had struggled past unseeded Frenchwoman Aravane Rezai in three sets in the semifinals when she appeared to injure her left leg, lost 6-3 6-2 to suffer her fifth defeat in her last eight clashes with the Russian. 

"I was struggling a little bit, but she definitely deserves all the credit," Williams told reporters. "It's definitely not ligament problems. It's just a little pain but the strapping usually helps the pain go away." 

Dementieva, who beat world No. 2 Dinara Safina in the quarterfinals, successfully defended her title in the final event before the first Grand Slam tournament of this decade starts on Monday. 

"It's great to play against the best players in the world, especially going into a Grand Slam. It was a great experience and it'll help me next week at the Australian Open," she told the WTA Tour's official Web site 

Dementieva went into the match against Williams having been handed a potential second-round clash with former world No. 1 Justine Henin, who pulled out of the Sydney event as a precaution after suffering a leg injury in her comeback tournament in Brisbane. 

Seven-time Grand Slam winner Henin, handed a wildcard after a 20-month retirement, will start against unseeded fellow Belgian Kirsten Flipkens on Monday while fifth seed Dementieva plays fellow Russian Vera Dushevina . 
Who's ranked first?
Which match is she preparing for?
Who was she beaten by?
What event was it?
When was it?
who got hurt?
How many sets wre played?
Did she think it was a ligament problem?
Was it painful?
Who beat Dementieva?
What was Safina ranked?
How many times has Henin won the Grand Slam?
Did she get a wildcard?
Had she retired?
For how long?
Who will she start against/
is she seeded?
What country is she from?
who is Dementieva playing?
is she russian?
Serena Williams.
orld No. 1 Serena Williams'
Australian Open
ons for her Australian Open
Elena Dementieva
the Sydney International by Elena Dementieva on Friday. 
Sydney International
 the final of the Sydney International by Elena Dementieva on Friday. 
Friday.
Dementieva on Friday. 
Williams
The American, who had struggled past unseeded Frenchwoman Aravane Rezai in three sets in the semifinals when she appeared to injure her left leg, lost 6-3 6-2 to suffer her fifth defeat in her last eight clashes with the Russian. 

Four
s in the semifinals when she appeared to injure her left leg, lost 6-3 6-2 to suffer her fifth defeat in her last eight clashes with the Russian. 
No.

"I was struggling a little bit, but she definitely deserves all the credit," Williams told reporters. "It's definitely not ligament problems. It's just a little pain but the strapping usually helps the pain go away." 
A lttle.
. It's just a little pain but the strapping usually helps the pain go away." 
No one.
Dementieva, who beat world No. 2 Dinara Safina in the quarterfinals, successfully defended her title in the final event before the first Grand Slam tournament of this decade starts on Monday. 
Number 2.
beat world No. 2 Dinara Safina
7 times
Seven-time Grand Slam winner Henin
Yes

Seven-time Grand Slam winner Henin, handed a wildcard after a 20-month retirement
Yes
ard after a 20-month retirement, 
20 months
 20-month retirement, 
Kirsten Flipkens
tart against unseeded fellow Belgian Kirsten Flipkens 
No.
Seven-time Grand Slam winner Henin, handed a wildcard after a 20-month retirement, will start against unseeded fellow Belgian Kirsten Flipkens on Monday while fifth seed Dementieva plays fellow Russian Vera Dushevina . 
Belgium
Belgian Kirsten Flipkens 
Vera Dushevina .
ementieva plays fellow Russian Vera Dushevina .
Yes
ys fellow Russian Vera Dushevina .