Inside Flushing Meadows

One of the (many) reasons world number one Roger Federer had such a dominant 2004 was his relaxed manner: smiling before each match, joking on the practice courts, playing video games... but let me tell you, one hour before his semi-final encounter with Tim Henman, it was no more Mr Nice Guy.

Federer was already into his match, tight-lipped and visibly playing out the points in his head.

When the match started, the 23-year old knew what he had to do on the court. It wasn't the joking, but his intense concentration that enabled him to block out the stress.

After the match it took Federer a good hour to enter the press conference room. By that time, Mr Nice Guy was back sharing his emotions with reporters in three different languages; German, English and French. Pretty impressive stuff.

Up close each player is distinctive, and none more so than Andre Agassi.

The 34-year old must be one of the most superstitious players on the Tour. He needs the same towel that helped him win the day before, placed by the ball boys in exactly the same spot as before.

When he's done, precisely 45 minutes pass from the moment Agassi shakes the hand of his opponent to the moment he enters his limo.

You can learn a lot from watching the players in practice.

Lleyton Hewitt is, by today's standards, short. But it is captivating to see the 5'11" player on a court, moving like tiger in his cage, even during practice as he patiently explains the nuances of the game to his teenage sparring partners from the junior circuit.

Why practice with the youngsters? It keeps the intensity levels up.

When double Grand Slam winner Justine Henin-Hardenne showed up for her fourth round encounter against Nadia Petrova, she appeared to have lost the match before it started.

She could be seen pacing, tying her shoelaces over and over again. It was the spectacle of a player losing the plot mentally.

Her pained look when conferring with coach Carlos Rodriguez was foreboding. She lost in what would be her final match of 2004.

Not all players enjoy exposure.

France's Mary Pierce can take three hours before entering the pressroom, even after a win.

Others are conscious of their public image. For instance, Serena Williams always sports a new fashion accessory; be it a special bag, special outfit, or even a dog.

Elena Dementieva appears shy and uncomfortable answering questions in English, while Florida-based Maria Sharapova, six years younger, seems perfectly at ease and even keen to converse in Shakespeare's language.

Many on the circuit come with their families.

The most emotional day at the US Open came with the semi-final encounter between Elena Dementieva and Jennifer Capriati.

The American had a golden opportunity to reach the final but contrived instead to lose 7-6 in a final set tiebreak, despite having broken.

Capriati lost the final match point, then rushed to the locker room with her family and began sob. Father Stefano Capriati was there to comfort her.

Her tears spoke volumes about the burning desire it takes to be a top-level player.

The seasoned veteran is a former world number one and a top-ten player. Yet even with so many matches under her belt, so many ups and downs over the years... boy, did that loss hurt badly.