Williams sets her sights on US Open

VENUS Williams has vowed to make amends for her Wimbledon final heartache by ending a bittersweet year on a high at the US Open.

Williams failed in her bid to become the oldest grand slam champion in the Open era as the American star was crushed 7-5, 6-0 by Garbine Muguruza in yesterday’s title match.

The 37-year-old trudged off court looking her age for virtually the first time in her unexpected 2017 renaissance.

Venus, beaten by sister Serena in the Australian Open final in January, has reached two grand slams finals in the same year for the first time since 2003. Given her battle with the autoimmune disease that leaves her fatigued, Venus’s return to prominence is a tribute to her will to win.

With Serena set to miss the rest of the year as she prepares to have her first child, Venus will still be among the favourites to win her eighth grand slam title at the US Open next month.

“I’m in good form. I’ve been in a position a lot of times this year to contend for big titles,” Venus said.

“That’s the kind of position I want to keep putting myself in. It’s just about getting over the line. This is where you want to be. I like to win. I don’t want to just get to a final. It’s just about playing a little better. I’m looking forward to the rest of the summer.”

Batting away questions that invited her to blame her second-set meltdown on tiredness caused by her illness, Venus said she could have no complaints about the result.

Her only regret was a failure to take the break points that came her way in a fiercely fought first set.

“Definitely would have loved to have converted some of those points. But she [Muguruza] competed really well. So credit to her. She played amazing,” Venus said.