When James Ward steps under the Centre Court arc-lights on Monday lunchtime, for a first-round match against defending champion Novak Djokovic, it will be an occasion tinged with sadness.
Be in no doubt that this will be the biggest moment of the British wild card's Grand Slam career. For there is no grander stage in tennis than Wimbledon's Centre Court, and no greater challenge than playing Djokovic, the first man since Rod Laver in 1969 to simultaneously hold all four majors.
But, amid all the excitement, there will be sorrow, too. Every time Ward picks up a tennis racket, he is reminded of his late coach Darren Tandy, an Australian who was also a friend and a father figure, and who died on Christmas Eve last year after losing his battle with colon cancer.
As Leon Smith, Great Britain's Davis Cup captain, told ESPN, Ward and Tandy were "extremely close", with their relationship broader than just being a tennis player and a hired coach.
"It's been a difficult time for James recently with Darren passing away," said Smith. "That's had a huge effect on him. They were very close. He was an unbelievable coach. He was very influential on James, both on and off the court. He was way more than a tennis coach. He was a father figure, he was a mentor.
"James didn't just lose a tennis coach, he lost someone who was really important in his life and the journey he was on. Darren passing away definitely affected him and it's still affecting him. He has struggled to come to terms with it because they were so close off the court as well. It's taken time. It's still only six months ago."
One of the finest moments of Ward's player-coach relationship with Tandy came at last summer's Wimbledon when the Londoner made the third round. Returning to the All England Club this summer, Ward has been looking back to that run under the guidance of his late coach.
"It's been a tough time. Obviously the end of last year was very difficult. People deal with grief in different ways. He was my tennis coach so every time I play tennis it reminds me of him. It's tough to put into words and it's something that's still difficult to talk about," Ward told the Press Association.
"When it's someone so close to you it definitely changes things. He was with me every day on court and to have that change is difficult. Maybe I didn't realise how much it was going to affect me and how much it has affected me. I wouldn't want to use it as an excuse any time, I've just come to the realisation that it happened and seeing now if I can get over it," added Ward, who is now coached by an old friend of his, Morgan Phillips.
"It's not always there but there are certain times. Obviously different tournaments, special moments. Like last year he was with me at Wimbledon when I had a good run so it's really difficult. We got on so well off the court as well and he really was like a father figure to me."
Smith said that Ward, who was a key figure in Britain's Davis Cup team last season, should be bold against Djokovic. "Look, James has got nothing to lose. No one's expecting him to get the win. But he has to believe he can win. He has to play the match of his life," Smith said.
"And what does that look like? He'll have to take a few risks and get out of his comfort zone a little bit. He's not going to sit back and trade with Djokovic and get much reward because no one else really does. He's going to need to be as offensive as he can be.
"James won't be intimidated by the occasion. He enjoys these things. He likes the biggest stage. Sure, he'll be nervous, everyone would be in that situation, but I know he'll love being on that big stage. He's moving towards turning 30 next year, and it's really important he tries to enjoy being part of these occasions."