Despite the softest of hands, the deftest of touches, excellent movement and a superb tactical brain, Hingis could not withstand the barrage from Williams who won their classic Wimbledon quarter-final 6-3 4-6 6-4.
``I don't think anything went wrong. She was just a little better in the end,'' Hingis said.
Three years ago Hingis, who is still only 19, was practically unbeatable. She won three Grand Slam titles and reached the final of the French Open in 1997, but she has not taken another major title since the 1999 Australian Open.
She has lost in the three major championships this year to players who hit the ball harder -- Lindsay Davenport in Australia, Mary Pierce in Paris and Venus here -- and the Swiss admitted: ``It's a little bit disappointing.
``Losing to Mary at the French (semifinal), I don't think that should have happened,'' she said. ``I had a big chance to win the French Open this year and I didn't take it.''
``Against Venus today she was good. I don't regret anything losing to her today. Against Mary, maybe that one shouldn't have been.''
WILLIAMS' ACES
Williams won the first and third sets on Tuesday with huge aces, blasting down eight against Hingis's one.
Athough the Swiss top seed managed to get 82 per cent of her serves in, they did not trouble Williams and her second serves looked positively feeble as the 1.85 metre-tall Venus stood well inside the baseline to receive.
As worrying were the winners that Williams smacked down the lines on both sides of the court.
Hingis could bamboozle the American with sweet lobs, angled drop shots and passes, but she was always under pressure and was forced into a number of crucial mistakes.
She insisted she had improved over the last few years. It was just that the others had made progess too.
``It used to be enough just with my abilities I had at the time which was that I had good hands, I was quick...
``It has changed so much since the Williamses started playing better...they are my age but they didn't play as steady , as consistent. The same with Monica (Seles) and Lindsay (Davenport). They improved their level also.
``Now it's like any one of us could be a winner at a Grand Slam.''
Hingis said that as number one in the world, a position she has exchanged with Davenport a few times during the last few months, she felt she still should win a Grand Slam.
``Overall I guess I have been the most consistent player,'' she said. ``But still a Grand Slam would be nice.''