Williams maintaining major belief

LONDON - Venus Williams 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 Saturday's title match.

Instead of celebrating her sixth Wimbledon title, and first major trophy since 2008, the 37-year-old trudged off Centre Court looking her age for virtually the first time in her unexpected 2017 renaissance.