Awestruck Serena is Lindsay's number one fan

MELBOURNE (Reuters) - Tennis mum Lindsay Davenport has a new disciple -- fellow former world number one and Australian Open champion Serena Williams.

"She's my ultimate role model," a wide-eyed Williams grinned. "Like she's just taken it to a new level. Honestly, I'm really speechless."

Davenport earlier this month won in Auckland to seal her third title in four tournaments since returning to the tour in September, having had a year off, during which she had her first child.

"I'm speechless because she looks better than me and she's seven months out of having a baby," Williams told reporters at Melbourne Park.

"I'm convinced if I had a baby, seven months later I'd probably still be in the hospital trying to get over the pain."

(Editing by John O'Brien)