Davenport happy to be in shadow

Lindsay Davenport happy to let tennis do the talking

By BBC Sport Online's Stephen Wood in Melbourne

The glitz and glamour dictating the women's game may have elbowed her to the peripheries in recent times, but Lindsay Davenport is confident she can wrench centre-stage back from her rivals over the next fortnight.

While the WTA has used the Williams sisters, Martina Hingis and Anna Kournikova in their marketing drives, the less salubrious features of Davenport have often left the world number two and defending Australian Open champion isolated.

Nowhere was the contrast between Davenport and her peers more keenly felt than when Venus Williams ushered in a new era for sportswomen by signing an endorsement contract with Reebok worth £35m.

It is the biggest ever deal for a female athlete, and a pay-day that Davenport can only dream about, if she wanted to.

Instead, the 24-year-old American can cherish something that the Williams sisters and Kournikova covet - the respect of the entire sport.

And true to form, Davenport insists that Williams' notoriety and bank balance brings nothing but good.

Happy rivals

"I'm not exactly hurting for money," said the three-time grand slam champion, who is preparing for Monday's Australian Open.

"I'm happy for Venus, and the impact of the contract has been great for women athletes.

"If the presence of Venus and Serena in the game attract attention and new fans, then I will benefit from that. It is amazing to think that people want to come and watch you play tennis, anyway.

"Venus has certainly accomplished a great deal in the last year.

"We don't spend a lot of time together, but at the Olympics she was definitely the centre of attention and it was clear how popular her and Serena were.

I'm certainly not envious of the others

  Lindsay Davenport

"But that's fine with me. I have never enjoyed the attention that goes with this sport. In fact, I would rather run from it, and I am never going to change.

"I'm certainly not envious of the others. Going out and performing on the court is more than enough for me - I never dreamed that I would be this successful when I started in the game."

So Williams can keep her contract and Hingis her glamorous aura, which has recently led the world number one to wearing a 'revolutionary' new shirt designed by her sponsors with one sleeve longer than the other.

Davenport sits between the pair in the world rankings, but with a strong chance of retaining her crown when the Open begins at Mebourne Park.

She has avoided Hingis and both Williams sisters in the singles draw, leaving the likelihood of a repeat of last year's final, when Davenport dismissed Hingis in straight sets.

Speed queen

And while the Californian is wary of Venus' power, she reckons she has Hingis' style worked out.

Venus Williams: Money spinner

"If Venus plays well, it's tough," admitted Davenport, who faces Australian Jelena Dokic in the first round.

"Venus' speed is incredible for someone who is that aggressive, and sometimes you don't even get a chance to return her serve.

"But Martina doesn't put the ball away first time, so you get a chance to play. You can return her serve and get into the point - if you are playing well, you are right in there."

Davenport was a relatively late developer in terms of acquiring success on the court. It means she appreciates her labours more than most.

"Winning the Australian Open last year was a special moment. It was the most fun I have had at a grand slam. It will be hard to live up to now, but it will be great to concentrate on tennis for a fortnight and feel in with a real chance of success again."