Veteran Venus Williams has ended CoCo Vandeweghe’s giantkilling run to become the oldest Australian Open women’s finalist in professional tennis history.

Turning 37 in June, Williams battled back from a set down to defeat her gallant American compatriot 6-7 (3-7) 6-2 6-3 in Thursday’s first semi-final at Melbourne Park.

Chasing her elusive first Open crown and eighth career major, Williams will face her sister – six-time champion Serena – or Croatian surprise packet Mirjana Lucic-Baroni in Saturday night’s final.