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Britain's long wait for a men's finalist at Wimbledon goes on after Andy Murray lost a nail-biting semi-final against Andy Roddick.
Roddick goes through to face Roger Federer in Sunday's final after a 6-4 4-6 7-6 (9-7) 7-6 (7-5) win.
The turning point came in the third set when Murray fought back from 5-2 down only to lose a tense tie-break.
Roddick played one of the best matches of his career to prevail after three hours and seven minutes.
Murray will inevitably look back with huge disappointment on his first Wimbledon semi-final, but he can also reflect on a stunning performance by his opponent.
While Murray's first serve let him down, Roddick's was almost impeccable, and his touch at the net, so often a weakness, was rock-solid.
"I had to play my best tennis to win," Roddick told BBC Sport.
"I can't say enough good things about Andy's game. But I can play some tennis sometimes. Not many people were giving me much of a chance, but I knew if I could stay the course, I had a chance.
"He had a lot of pressure on him, and I could come out and swing, and I think that helped.
"He's been a much better player than I have over the last year - I was just a little bit better today."
Murray came into the match with a 6-2 winning record against Roddick, including a third-round win over the American at Wimbledon three years ago.
But Larry Stefanki, who began coaching the world number six in November, had hinted that Roddick might change his tactics in the semi-final, and so it proved.
The American played a patient game from the back of the court, abandoning his usual all-out aggression and instead trying to move Murray out of position and induce the error.
And with a 75% success rate on Roddick's first serve, Murray was unable to make his famed returning prowess count.
The Scot, perhaps affected by nerves on his semi-final debut at Wimbledon, struggled with his first serve during the first set, but his work off the ground kept him in it.
That was until 4-5 when Roddick produced a near-perfect game.
At 30-30, the sixth seed's variety of groundstroke had Murray off-balance and a delicate drop shot left the Scot scrambling in vain.
That left Roddick with the first break point of the match, and he took it - and with it the set - when Murray stretched for a forehand and only found the top of the net.
That was the cue for both players to leave the court for a toilet break, and Murray returned invigorated.
An inspired spell of play saw him win eight of the next nine points, two consecutive aces sealing a 2-0 lead and putting him ahead of the American on aces.
He did not come close to another break, but when the chance came to serve out the set, the 22-year-old was calmness personified, finishing it with a big serve which Roddick could only mis-hit into the tramlines.
The momentum with him, Murray quickly earned three break points in the first game of the third set, but could take none, Roddick saving the last with a stunning backhand volley on the stretch which died on the turf.
The American appeared inspired, and another deft drop shot earned him the chance to take a 3-1 lead, grabbing it when Murray's forehand looped over the baseline.
The world number three gave full vent to his frustration in the following game when his cry of "come on, pass" was mis-interpreted by the umpire as an audible obscenity.
The Scot dug deep, despite his travails.
He held serve from deuce to make it 5-3 and he got his reward when, serving for the set, Roddick faltered for the first time.
The crowd chanting his name, Murray took the set to a tie-break, and had a set point at 6-5 only for Roddick to come up with another nerveless volley.
It was Murray's turn to save a set point next, the Briton rocking onto his back foot and caressing a forehand winner down the line.
The shot was inspired, but a mis-hit forehand on the very next point wiped out his good work and gave Roddick an 8-7 lead, Murray netting an attempted pass to leave the American a set away from his third Wimbledon final.
With Murray in real trouble, the crowd sensed their moment, roaring their support in the sort of desperate tone which accompanied Tim Henman's matches here.
The noise reached fever-pitch as the fourth set reached its climax, but with Roddick's record of winning 25 of 29 breakers this year, Murray's hopes were always on a knife-edge.
Trailing 5-3, Murray drew Roddick into the net before passing him with a majestic forehand, which brushed the line.
The Briton missed with a forehand, giving Roddick two match points, and though Murray saved the first with another sensational forehand, Roddick took the second when one last desperate pass from his opponent hit the net. Courtesy: BBC News |
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