Jannik Sinner and Alexander Zverev, the world's top two players, are set to clash in the Australian Open final. Sinner, the reigning champion, seeks his second consecutive title, while Zverev, hungry for his first Grand Slam victory, poses a significant threat.
Jannik Sinner is cautious of Alexander Zverev , calling the German a 'physical beast', as the Italian aims for a second consecutive Australian Open title. This Sunday's final at Melbourne Park pits the world's top two players against each other, with the ice-cool Sinner riding a 20-match winning streak, dropping just two sets in his six matches so far. Sinner is favored to secure his third Grand Slam crown and second at the Australian Open after his victory over Daniil Medvedev last year.
Only three other men have achieved back-to-back Australian Open titles since the turn of the century – Andre Agassi, Roger Federer, and Novak Djokovic. However, the 23-year-old, who experienced cramp in his semifinal against Ben Shelton, offered Zverev a glimmer of hope ahead of their clash.\'No', he responded when asked if he felt unbeatable after his Melbourne run, building on winning eight titles last year, including the US Open and the season-ending ATP Finals. 'I know that I put a lot of work in. I know I just try to stay calm, never taking things for granted. Just well-prepared, to be honest.' Sometimes you have some issues and then trying to understand that whatever works best for that day and trying to go for it. Everyone makes mistakes. Nobody's perfect.' This statement might encourage the world No 2 Zverev, long considered the sport's most unfulfilled talent, who has yet to win a Grand Slam title after a decade of trying. The German, who has bulked up in recent months, is also on a hot streak, winning 16 of his past 17 matches dating back to his title run at November's Paris Masters.\Zverev holds a 4-2 record against the Italian but knows all too well that he has fallen short in crucial moments on tennis' biggest stages. Zverev blew a two-set lead against Dominic Thiem in the 2020 US Open final and surrendered a 2-1 advantage in last year's French Open title match against Carlos Alcaraz. Following the French Open disappointment, he rejoined revered trainer Jez Green and has been dedicated to reaching peak fitness to compete with players like Sinner and Alcaraz. 'I think I said it also after the French Open final, I got tired against Carlos. I simply got tired in the fourth and fifth set', he said. 'Yes, there were some unlucky moments. In general, I got tired, and I didn't want that to happen this year anymore. 'Look, I think Jannik has been the best player in the world for the past 12 months,' he added. 'There's no doubt about it. Won two Grand Slams, has been very, very stable in those regards. Sinner's coach Darren Cahill said it was no surprise to see his young charge back in the final, but they are wary of the threat posed by Zverev's burning desire to finally win a Slam. 'He's a physical beast,' Cahill said. 'He's put those years of work into his body. He is a great athlete and has a great five-set record. It's the No 1 and two in the world, so it's the perfect final as far as the rankings are concerned.'
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