Ross Hutchins has just been through what can only be described as a hellish last six months, yet you could not meet a more positive person.
And Hutchins seems convinced that his best friend Andy Murray can secure his second grand slam title and his first at the All England Club this year.
"He's got as good a chance as anybody," said Hutchins, who was attending an event on behalf Slazenger in London. "I think Murray, (Novak) Djokovic and (Rafael) Nadal are the three favourites for me. They are all of a very similar standard.
"I think Nadal showed that he is still the 'King of Clay' having won eight of the last nine French Open titles - but on grass, I think they're all the same.
"It's going to come down to a couple of games and a couple of points in the latter stages. I think they will all get to the latter stages - the quarters or semis - and then it will come down to who can really perform on the day - who is the strongest - who hasn't picked up an injury and who has the belief.
"Andy's form as we saw at Queen's last week was fantastic. He beat (Nicolas) Mahut and (Jo-Wilfred) Tsonga and these guys are tough players on grass, especially when you haven't been playing matches before that."
Hutchins also believes Andy Murray made the correct decision to pull out of the French Open in order to recuperate due to a back injury he picked up during the Rome Masters.
"Well, I think he absolutely made the right call to pull out of Paris," admitted Hutchins.
"When you're a top player at any sports, you want to play the big events, so I know that was very disappointing, but it gave him that time he needed to rest his back, to be able to focus more on the grass courts and focus more on Queen's.
"I think that will help him both physically and injury wise so that he be healthy in mind and body for the start of Wimbledon."
Unqualified success
Ivan Lendl took over as Murray's right-hand man at the start of last year and right-hander Hutchins says the partnership has been an unqualified success after he helped the Scot win Olympic gold and then break his grand slam duck at the US Open.
He feels that the eight-time grand slam winner has instilled a tactical nous as well as enormous belief into Murray's game which has helped him rise to No 2 in the rankings.
"Ivan knows as well as anyone, may be apart from Roger Federer, how to win matches and grand slam title," he said.
"Ivan has been there and got the t-shirt. He knows when to practice, how much to practice and what to think.
"He has an eye for tactics that maybe others don't because players like Nadal, Federer, Djokovic and Murray don't come around often. They have a different eye for tennis that nobody else in the world can match.
"Ivan passes along his wisdom and his relationship with Andy is fantastic. He's given him enormous confidence and the knowledge and belief that 'you are a grand slam champion, so go out and play and believe in yourself'. And Andy has shown that in the last few grand slams."
The added pressure of playing in front of a passionate and patriotic crowd at the All England Club could be a detriment to Murray's game - but Hutchins is sure the partisan atmosphere will inspire the British No 1.
"I don't think he will feel extra pressure because of the fact that he is a grand slam champion and the fact that he is a gold medallist at the Olympics - on the grass. That will help stand him in very good stead for the latter stages, which I believe he will be."
He also seems pretty adamant that his best friend Murray will come good and claim his first Wimbledon crown at SW19 this summer.
"It wouldn't surprise me if it's a Murray-Djokovic final," he said. "I think Andy will make it through. I think Nadal, Federer will be very close after and (David) Ferrer will be tough to beat.
"It wouldn't surprise me (if the final went to five sets). I wouldn't mind how he does it, whether it's in straight sets or in five sets - a couple of days or in 10 minutes, it would be amazing for Andy to win Wimbledon. It's something he deserves."
Ross Hutchins was speaking from Lillywhites, London. How many balls are in the giant container in the store window? Tweet your guess to @slazengersport using #SlazengerBalls for your chance to win Men's Wimbledon Final Tickets, courtesy of official ball supplier, Slazenger.
