Daniil Medvedev plays to the crowd as he books third-round spot

Daniil Medvedev and Alex Zverev play to the Wimbledon crowd as they book their spots in the third round… with the young pretenders the biggest challengers to Novak Djokovic

• Daniil Medvedev and Alex Zverev are the main challenges to Novak Djokovic
• Both played to the crowd as they booked their third-round spots at Wimbledon
• Volatile Medvedev was at his brilliant but angry best to beat Carlos Alcaraz 
• Zverev played the role of light entertaininer as he beat Tennys Sandgren

Novak Djokovic finds his two main rivals bang in form, but taking rather different approaches as they work their way through the opposite half of the draw to the defending champion.

Volatile Russian Daniil Medvedev, the No 2 seed and second favourite with the bookmakers, was at his brilliant but angry best to thrash Spanish wildcard Carlos Alcaraz.

Dashing German fourth seed Alex ‘Sascha’ Zverev, meanwhile, played the role of light entertainer in a similarly awesome display of all-court tennis to book his third round berth by dismissing Tennys Sandgren in three quick sets. 

Daniil Medvedev was at his brilliant but angry best to thrash Spanish wildcard Carlos Alcaraz

Alex Zverev played the role of light entertainer to book his third round berth by dismissing Tennys Sandgren

Even accounting for the age-defying Roger Federer, the young pretenders are the most likely to cause an upset this year.

As is so often the case, Medvedev — previously a runner-up at the US Open and Australian Open — challenged the Court One spectators as well as Alcaraz in his 6-4, 6-1, 6-2 victory. 

Wimbledon folk love an underdog and were rooting for 18-year-old Alcaraz, the prodigy from Murcia tipped to replace Rafael Nadal as Spain’s leading player. 

Having cupped his ear in defiance when his mistakes were cheered, Medvedev ultimately won over the spectators

Having cupped his ear in defiance when his mistakes were cheered, Medvedev, 25, ultimately won over the spectators with his antics and brilliance.

‘I like to interact with the crowd,’ he said. ‘It was nothing against them. It was to try to pump them up a little bit on my side. I think it worked.

‘Actually, I think some of the fans got angry, like maybe 10 people behind my right ear. I was hearing them all the match, but it was fun. The rest of the crowd, I felt they enjoyed the match. That’s the most important thing.’

Zverev is also getting closer to the Grand Slam holy grail, reaching the US Open final last September and the semi-finals in Paris last month.

Medvedev and Zverev are the biggest challengers to Novak Djokovic at the Grand Slam

The 24-year-old made light work of his dangerous American opponent, hitting the second fastest serve of the tournament with a 138mph ace on the way to winning 7-5, 6-2, 6-3.

There was also plenty of style and finesse, as well as jokes with his opponent — who dropped a point when a ball fell out of his pocket — and the crowd along the way.

‘It’s not common, but Tennys has a very good sense of humour and so does the British crowd,’ said Zverev before making it clear he is not here just for a laugh.

‘I’m at a stage where I come to a tournament to win it.’

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