Tough talk gave unknown Eaton the vital edge

It was then that they spelled out a few facts of life, such as the need for him to stop being so nice; to get fitter and stronger; to adopt a more attacking game and to take more risks.

Beaten Eaton: but doubles defeat leaves him free to focus on singles

The fact that he faces Russian Dmitri Tursunov on Court No 1 today for a place in the third round, just six weeks after playing in an obscure tournament in provincial Uzbekistan - off the radar of even the most fervent tennis fan - suggests the message got through.

On Tuesday lunchtime Eaton could have walked down Wimbledon High Street completely unnoticed. By Wednesday he was answering questions about every facet of his life, from the car he drives to his favourite film.

Gladiator is his cinematic favourite, it transpires. 'I like to skip the boring bits and just watch the fight scenes,' he said yesterday before the match that guarantees him £17,000.

This comparative fortune, which will more than double his previous career earnings at a stroke, comes after a growth spurt in the past year which has seen him add several inches in height and fill out considerably.

His increase in size was extremely timely, given the advice dispensed to the player and his parents in a career assessment, when even the idea of packing him off to university tennis in America was floated.

'We have these kind of chats with all our players and in Chris's case it was made clear that changes were needed to give himself the best chance of success in the game,' said Paul Hutchins, the LTA's head of men's tennis.

'All the options were on the table, including him going to university in the States. He had to become faster and fitter and compete a bit harder. He's a very nice guy from a nice family and needed a bit more of a hard edge on the court.

'We told him that he had to stop trying to rally from the baseline so much and come in to the net at all times because that's where his strength is. He had to serve and volley and take more risks.'

Judging by the way he served a 124 mph ace on second serve in his first-round win over Boris Pashanski, the 20 year-old from East Horsley has absorbed the advice.

'What is really pleasing is that Chris has totally bought in to what he has been told and it's a great example to our other players of what can be achieved. He's also very appreciative,' added Hutchins

'At the same time we shouldn't get too carried away with what he has done and I am sure that he won't because he is so level-headed.'

In the last nine months Eaton has made trips to outposts such as Israel, Uzbekistan, Russia and Exmouth with help from the LTA and sponsorship from his father's computer services company.

The Wimbledon bonanza, after coming through qualifying, could make a profound difference to his tennis development. 'There are some places I haven't been able to go to and now I may be able to plan a schedule based on tennis rather than saving money,' said Eaton yesterday, before he and Alex Slabinsky lost in the doubles to the top-seeded Bryan brothers.

Having revealed that he drives an old Vauxhall Astra with tape on the wing mirror, he joked: 'I might be able to buy some different coloured duct tape after this.

'One of the places we stayed at in Uzbekistan was 87 a night but all you need is a bed to sleep in. We had a fridge in the room - that was awesome. It was tough trip, though. I didn't do too well and that can get you down.'

Today Eaton faces the California-based Russian, seeded 25, who used to make a habit of beating Tim Henman.

Tursunov can serve with even more power than his British opponent and goes for broke on every shot he can. The key will once again be Eaton's serve and if he can keep delivering them with unplayable power and accuracy, he has the ability to go further.

However, the likelihood is that it will be all over by tonight and, as with every British hopeful who enjoys their stint in the sun here, what matters is how they follow up in the ensuing months.