The best pals met while at the Sanchez-Casal Academy in Barcelona six years ago and the South American's initial impression of the Scot wasn't favourable. Like others who see his on-court intensity and, wrongly, confuse it for grumpiness or think his hatred of failure is actually teenage petulance, Vallverdu says he made assumptions that were soon proved wrong.

"Two nights after I met him for the first time we went for dinner and I realised how open and outgoing he was. Since then we have been pretty close. Andy seemed like a closed guy at first, who wouldn't talk to many people, but that's totally the wrong impression of him because he's so outgoing and always laughing and joking. Andy cares about people. He's always asking how people are getting on and that's his best quality as a person in my opinion. He's a great friend who is always there for you whenever you need him. He's a guy who has an unbelievable heart and I'm just so proud to call him a good friend of mine."

The British No.1 paired up with his best mate for the doubles at Queen's Club last week and the friends have hung out together in London, helping keep the pressure off Murray as he prepares for his tilt at the Wimbledon title.

Vallverdu was with Murray at the BBC studios for his recent appearance on Friday Night with Jonathan Ross and says it was intriguing to see how nervous he was. "I was winding Andy up before he went on to the show, teasing him that he was really nervous. He was making it seem like he wasn't but I'm sure he was a bit. There's no doubt he was more nervous going onto the Jonathan Ross show than when he walks out at Centre Court at Wimbledon, because that's his comfort zone, his home."

While there are some pretty useful players in his way, Vallverdu says he wouldn't be surprised if Murray managed to get his feet even further under the table in the coming fortnight.

"Andy never talked about winning Wimbledon but the first week I met him and was playing with him I told one of our other friends that I thought he was going to win Wimbledon one year. He was just that good. He had something special that not many players have. I think he has a gift in how easily things come to him. I think he could win it this year, for sure."