Sherwood starts to treat the parents

Sherwood's parents have been a constant source of support throughout his more difficult moments, standing by him when he was expelled from the LTA's development programme at Bisham Abbey.

Although both have had hip replacements, preventing them from joining David on the practice court, John occasionally feeds the serving machine and helps out in the gym, using an exercise bike he won on Superstars in the 1970s.

Their next job is to find a hotel for tonight as Sherwood's reservation at the South Wimbledon Travel Inn has run its course.

He said: "My parents have been very influential on my career. With everything they've experienced and achieved in sport they can give me lots of information and help me through it. They've also funded my tennis and helped me out through the bad times. My dad helps me out a bit feeding some balls but they don't really play.

"They can't really move as they've both got artificial hips. I've never done anything like this before so this is all new to me. When I was driving back to the hotel last night someone approached me and said, 'well done' which has never happened before.

"I re-booked my room for the last two nights but they're fully booked for tonight so I don't know where I'll end up."

As a big-serving natural athlete Sherwood would expect to beat a Spanish clay-courter on grass but Lopez has a good record at Wimbledon, reaching the fourth round in 2002 and 2003.

He said: "Playing on grass is good for my game. I have played well here in the past, reaching the fourth round twice so it's definitely a good tournament for me.

"The crowd is going to be supporting him so I have to think of my game and play my best tennis and not be aware of anything else happening around the court.

"I have played in the Davis Cup when you realise what it is like when the crowd is supporting the other guy so I hope the experience of that will help me."