Australian crowds love nothing more than a professional athlete who shows a touch of class and character when they perform, proving that these elite sportsmen and women are something more than driven, humourless robots.

Every year Melbourne is blessed to host the world's best tennis players for a fortnight during January as they compete for the Australian Open. It is a fantastic time to be in the city, as the weather warms and fans flock to Melbourne Park to get a glimpse of their favourite players.

Swiss maestro Roger Federer always plays in a packed stadium, and it's not just because the world No.2 has 16 Grand Slam titles to his name.

Federer has a humanity, and humility, that makes him a crowd favourite. He could severely beat down on a lesser-ranked player in the early rounds but his post-match press conference will always be refined and humble, never once hinting at arrogance.

Ranked just one place behind Federer, and winner of the 2008 Australian Open, is Novak Djokovic, a player who desperately seeks the adulation of the Australian crowd, but the affection, it seems, is far from a two-way street.

Djokovic likes to impersonate his fellow professionals, from imitating the high-skirted Maria Sharapova to mocking the eccentric superstitions of Spain's world No.1 Rafael Nadal.

Maybe it's a cultural difference - or maybe I just don't get it - but Djokovic's antics come across to me as being forced and full of effort, almost to the point of trying too hard to manufacturer a comedic response.

In contrast, American Andy Roddick appears to be naturally funny and more suited to the Australian humour pallet. Even his regular outbursts to the chair umpire are witty and among the most-replayed footage from the television broadcasters.

During the Rally for Relief hit-up prior to the Australian Open, Djokovic was continually competing with Roddick for the limelight. Roddick was able to laugh at himself, becoming a female line-judge, whicker-hat and all. Djokovic then decided to play around with the photographers and their obsession with Caroline Wozniacki - a clumsy act, which was a little cringe-worthy.

Even Djokovic's game style appears forced and overly-structured. It is full of brutality, strength and power aiming to hit his opponent off the court from the baseline. He painstakingly bounces the ball up to twenty-five times before serving, irritating both his opponent and the viewer at home.

In tonight's semi-final at Melbourne Park, he plays the effervescent Federer, who has already built a reputation as one of the best-loved athletes to compete in this country. Federer's game is about angles, mastering the full range of shots and thinking his opponent out of a match. He's not afraid to show emotion, being humble in victory and gracious in defeat, respectful and reminiscent of the past champions.

We love Roger for being classy and natural. Not necessarily two qualities we can say about Djokovic.