Feliciano López 'proud of his mum', a nurse who has beaten Covid-19

Toledo-born López, 38, wrote a letter to the Spanish version of international newspaper ABC giving thanks to Belén Díaz-Guerra, of whom he says he is 'really proud'.

“My mother, a nurse by profession who has beaten Covid-19 – thank God – is already looking forward to getting back to work because she says it was her who chose this career and many hands are needed right now in the hospital she is based at,” López wrote.

Belén Díaz-Guerra works in a hospital in Toledo, although her son now lives in Madrid with his wife, Sandra Gago.

Currently 63^rd in the world, López, who replaced number one Rafa Nadal in the London 2012 Olympics when the Mallorca-born ace had to pull out due to a knee injury, explains that his mum had to take leave from her job immediately when she became infected.

“When I started playing tennis competitively and lost games, the disappointment was tremendous; but my mum would often say to me, 'son, it's a game of tennis. The real dramas are the ones I see in the hospital'.

“Thanks, mum, for opening my eyes a bit! I must confess that after the worst defeats, these words have helped me put into perspective what losing a match actually means.”

Feliciano married model and TV presenter Alba Carrillo, then 29, in July 2015, but their union was short-lived and they divorced 16 months later.

Sandra Gago, whom he married in September, is just 24, but she says she does not feel the age gap at all.

A model who is currently ambassador for the Portuguese label Salsa and its new store in Madrid, Sandra says she started working in her trade at the age of 15 and by 17, was travelling to castings and jobs alone, which she admits forced her to grow up very quickly.

She is 'a few modules off' finishing her degree in journalism, which she intends to complete as soon as possible 'for personal satisfaction' even if it turns out she does not need it for her career.

The pair had just got back from their 'second honeymoon' in Acapulco, México when their home country went into lockdown.

In the above photograph, Feliciano – who was then 33 – is snapped during practice at the Queens Club Aegon Championships in London in 2015 (by Diliff via Wikimedia Commons).