"If I had a baby, 7 months later I'd still be in the hospital" - When Serena Williams was impressed by Lindsay Davenport's post-maternity comeback

Serena Williams was once impressed by Lindsay Davenport's impressive return to tennis after becoming a mother.

Three months after giving birth to her son Jagger in June 2007, Davenport made a remarkable comeback to the WTA Tour, winning a title in Bali. Despite not adding to her three grand slam titles during this period, she managed to claim four titles before being pregnant again in December 2008.

Williams and Davenport were both playing in the 2008 Australian Open and during a pre-tournament press conference, the defending champion Williams was asked to share her thoughts on the former World No. 1's post-maternity comeback.

Serena Williams playfully remarked that if she were to have a baby, she wouldn't look nearly as good as her colleague did on the court. The American also referred to her compatriot as her 'ultimate role model.'

"I mean, I'm speechless because she looks better than me and she's seven months out of having a baby. 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 (laughter)," Williams said.

"I mean, she is my ultimate role model. I mean, I'm really so motivated. Like she's just taken it to a new level. Honestly, I'm really speechless," she added.

Serena Williams progressed to the quarterfinals in the Melbourne Slam that year where she was defeated by Jelena Jankovic. She secured victories against Jarmila Wolfe, Yuan Meng, Victoria Azarenka and Nicole Vaidisova on the way.

Meanwhile, Lindsay Davenport had a subpar showing. She triumphed over Sara Errani in the opening round but faced a setback in the next, losing to the eventual champion Maria Sharapova.

---

Serena Williams is now a mother of two girls with her husband Alexis Ohanian

Serena Williams pictured with her husband and daughter Olympia at the 2022 US Open

Serena Williams and Alexis Ohanian got married in November 2017 in New Orleans, Louisiana. The power couple welcomed their first child, Alexis Olympia Ohanian Jr., the same year.

The tennis legend and the tech entrepreneur got pregnant again and announced the news during the 2023 Met Gala. They then shared the news of the birth of their second daughter, Adira, in August.

Williams secured her last Grand Slam title at the 2017 Australian Open while pregnant with Olympia, that too without dropping a set. The American retired from professional tennis at the 2022 US Open after being defeated in the third round by Australia's Ajla Tomljanovic.