Sinner wary of 'physical beast' Zverev

The pair will face off at the Australian Open men's final on Sunday

MELBOURNE:

Jannik Sinner is wary of "physical beast" Alexander Zverev as the Italian bids to join an elite group with back-to-back Australian Open titles in a final that pits the world's top two players.

The ice-cool runaway world number one goes into Sunday's Melbourne Park decider on a 20-match win streak, dropping just two sets in his six matches so far.

Sinner is favourite to secure a third Grand Slam crown and second at the Australian Open after his maiden triumph over Daniil Medvedev last year.

Only three other men have managed the feat on Rod Laver Arena since the turn of the century -- Andre Agassi, Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic.

But the 23-year-old, who suffered from cramp in his semi-final with Ben Shelton, offered Germany's Zverev a glimmer of hope ahead of their showdown.

"No," he replied when asked if he had become unbeatable after his run in Melbourne, on the back of winning eight titles last year, including the US Open and 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.

"Every day is a big challenge. Every day you have a different opponent," he added.

"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."

That will prick the ears of world number two Zverev, long seen as the sport's most unfulfilled talent, without a Grand Slam title after a decade of trying.

The German has bulked up in recent months and is also on a red-hot streak, winning 16 of his past 17 matches dating back to his title run at November's Paris Masters.

He holds a 4-2 record over the Italian, but the 27-year-old knows all too well that's he's fallen short when it's mattered most on tennis's biggest stages.