However, it is the 23-year-old from
Toledo who might prove the better bet
on the grass of SW19.
Lopez has a big serve and forehand
and favours faster courts, which is
reflected in an impressive record at
Wimbledon.
Successive runs to the last 16 in 2002
and 2003 were folllowed by defeat to
big-serving Ivo Karlovic in round three
last year.
His recent results have been unremarkable
apart from a win over Andre Agassi at
the Hamburg Masters, although on clay
the American is not the scalp he once
was.
Lopez also suffered a dramatic loss
to Joachim Johansson at the Australian
Open, going down 13-11 in the fifth
set.
He lost to the same player in the Marseille
semi-finals in his next tournament but,
if he can avoid the Swede, will be confident
of progress at Wimbledon.
