Defending champion has navigated his way to final but his rival has yet to show he can last distance on big stage

“I am not perfect, no?” said Jannik Sinner, the best player in the world, late on Friday night. Sinner had just navigated his path back to the Australian Open final with another demonstration of his supreme mental toughness, recovering from a first-set deficit to ruthlessly defeat Ben Shelton, the 21st seed. Sinner maintains there is more to come.

These are by far the best times of Sinner’s career, a period when he has broken through at the biggest tournaments and firmly entrench himself at the top. Winning major titles is impressive enough, but his consistency on a week to week basis has already separated him from many other champions.

• The 19th seed defeats world No 1 6-3, 2-6, 7-5
• American claims her first grand slam title

After years of struggling with the suffocating expectations of her youth and wondering whether her biggest opportunities had passed her by, Madison Keys stood at the baseline inside a deafening Rod Laver Arena one game away from her ultimate goal. In the later stages of a phenomenal final between two of the most devastating ball-strikers in the game, all she could do was continue to attack.

While Keys might have succumbed to the pressure in previous years, this time the significance of the occasion inspired her most fearless, uncompromising shotmaking as she closed out a sublime performance with a 6-3, 2-6, 7-5 win over Aryna Sabalenka, the world No 1, to clinch her first grand slam title.

The American has made her peace with the stress that once stymied her and is ready for Aryna Sabalenka in Melbourne

Only a few hours after her first grand slam final had come to an end in 2017, while she was still trying to process falling short of achieving her ultimate dream, Madison Keys was asked to consider what she could have done differently during her time on court. She responded, smiling, without hesitation: “Win some more games.”

Her comments were a fair reflection of a brutal 6-3, 6-0 loss to Sloane Stephens in the US Open final. Keys has had to accept that she badly failed to handle the pressure of the occasion. “I’ve obviously thought of that match endlessly for the past eight years,” says Keys.

• Italian survives an early scare to win 7-6 (2), 6-2, 6-2
• Defending champion faces Zverev in Sunday showdown

An hour into one of the greatest occasions of his young tennis career, Ben Shelton was soaring. As he faced the daunting challenge of Jannik Sinner, Shelton frustrated the best player in the world early on with his potent forehand, athleticism and variety of shot. Up set point and 6-5 on his serve, Shelton was well positioned to take a surprise early lead on Rod Laver Arena.

While Sinner’s mental toughness used to be considered a flaw, one of the qualities obstructing him from finally winning the biggest titles, today few players tackle these important moments with such composure and consistency. From set point down, Sinner spectacularly elevated his level, turning the first set around before marching to another supreme victory on a court that is becoming his fortress.

World No 7 is not fully fit but has mental edge in semi-final over opponent who has repeatedly cowered under pressure

Even before he had undergone medical tests, defined the nature of his physical ailment and planned for his recovery, Novak Djokovic knew what was in store for him in the days after his remarkable quarter-final victory over Carlos Alcaraz on Tuesday, which he pulled off despite struggling with left thigh pain.

Just as he suggested post-match, Djokovic has not been present on the practice courts at Melbourne Park for Friday’s semi-final with Alexander Zverev. After being absent from the practice schedule on Wednesday, his scheduled 2pm training session had been wiped from the list on Thursday morning.

• American victorious with 5-7, 6-1, 7-6 (8) win
• Advances to her second grand slam final

As Madison Keys stared down a match point in the final set of one of the most extraordinary matches of her career, she had ample reason to slump her shoulders and lament the crushing defeat that seemed to be imminent.

From a set down, Keys had rallied brilliantly, dragging herself back into contention with some of the most destructive, daring ­shotmaking exhibited all tournament. In the breathless final set that followed, when she was so often close to ­losing, the 19th seed continually found the courage and heart to force her way back into the match.

The 37-year-old showed killer instinct against younger rival, a willingness to go to hell and back in pursuit of glory

In the most recent late-night exhibition of his insatiable resilience and desire, as he again belied his ageing body to deliver another legendary performance, one of the most significant moments of Novak Djokovic’s quarter-final defeat of Carlos Alcaraz at the Australian Open came as the Serb clung on desperately to his frail momentum.

With a set point on his serve at 5-3 in the third set, Djokovic was hurled around the court by Alcaraz, chasing down a drop shot before stumbling back to the baseline in pursuit of a lob. The frantic point – and set – ended with Djokovic slipping an angled backhand passing shot by Alcaraz before cupping his hands to his ear while the Rod Laver Arena erupted.