Author: Wayne Coffey, Special for USA TODAY

Serena Williams started slowly, but finished strong in a 7-5, 6-3 victory.

Coco Gauff had advanced to the round of 16 at Wimbledon and the round of 32 in the Open in 2019, then made the round of 16 at Australia in January.

She trails Margaret Court by one for the all-time record, but hasn’t won a major in 44 months although she’s come achingly close in Flushing Meadows.