Sloane Stephens pulled the plug on Victoria Azarenka with a straight-sets US Open win.

Azarenka aims for a lights out 2019.

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Drawing positives from her grit in a 6-3, 6-4 defeat, Azarenka said with a solid stretch of offseason training, she can deliver a stirring season. 

"I think I put on a great fight," Azarenka said. "I'm very happy with the way I approached the match. All that is positive. Being excited to go to the play, being excited to fighting. Right now it's all pluses for me.

"As long as I put in the work in the offseason, I'll be lights out."

It's been six years since Azarenka won her second straight Australian Open crown and lost her second straight US Open final.

The 79th-ranked Belarusian said she strongly believes she will raise another Grand Slam title trophy. 

"Trust me, I wouldn't be sitting here if I didn't believe that," Azarenka said. "I would be home doing a bunch of different things and being successful at those things, but I want to do this."

Photo credit: Rob Newall/CameraSport