Dealing with the media has become an integral part of a tennis player's life, and some do it better than others.

Roger Federer is the king of calm, James Blake is articulate and intelligent, while the Williams sisters give as good as they get, but usually with a smile.

At the other extreme is Andy Roddick, who likes to hit back with replies that are dripping with sarcasm.

And then there are the monosyllabic players, like David Nalbandian whose answers are invariably shorter than the questions, and often involve a simple yes or no.

While some are keen to talk about their personal lives, others aren't. Likewise, some take controversial questions in their stride while others refuse to get involved.

And the subject matter ranges from the serious to the daft.

At the Australian Open questions have been lobbed on everything from Venus Williams's bottom and Ana Ivanovic's hairstyle to more weighty fare like match-fixing and doping.

Regardless of how tired or dejected a player might be, they must turn up for post-match press conferences or face heavy fines at major tournaments.

To prepare them for the rollercoaster ride, every player is required to undergo media training when they first come on tour, with an option for more whenever they want.

New tennis darling Ivanovic enjoys the banter, and has even tried her hand at being the one seeking answers.

"It is a part of the routine that you become used to very quickly," the Serbian world number four said on Monday of her media obligations.

"I like to hear new, interesting questions. Interviews are obviously an important part of our job, and if we're just talking about forehands and backhands all the time, it gets pretty boring."

And she knows what it's like on the other end.

"I had a tiny bit of experience as an interviewer," she said.

"At the US Open last year, I was a reporter for the night at a sponsor's party. I interviewed Venus Williams, Roger Federer, Max Mirnyi and Novak Djokovic.

"I was nervous and it made me realise that it's not as easy as it looks. In many ways, it was a bizarre experience: I had never spoken to players that way before."

With hundreds of journalists angling for the right quotes to build their stories, some players dish out answers better than others.

Multi-lingual world number one Federer is as skilled in the press conference room as he is on the court.

Patiently, and in good humour, he sits through a barrage of English questions before answering similar queries in Swiss, Swiss-German, and French.

He also deals with the issues in Swedish and Italian if need be. And then it's time to give the radio types their soundbites.

Before this he has already answered on-court questions from the host broadcaster, with American former player Jim Courier usually at the microphone in Melbourne, and then goes into the studio for more of the same.

In contrast is Roddick, who one writer on Monday said would be better suited to the umpire's high chair, complete with bib and rattle.

At his 3am post-match press conference after being knocked out of the Australian Open in the third round, he clearly wanted to be somewhere else.

When one wag pointed out that he looked like he had been "sweating buckets" on court, he sarcastically replied: "Yeah, I have a sweating problem. It's been a real problem in my personal life."

To another who asked how the match slipped away from him, he said: "Is that a question? Or are you having a monologue here?"

AFP