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Roddick proves too strong as Murray bid falters
Andy Murray's dream of reaching the Wimbledon final was crushed by Andy Roddick in a dramatic semi-final.
The British No 1 went into the match as a hot favourite to beat the sixth seed, who he had defeated in six of their eight previous meetings, but Roddick produced a brilliant performance to triumph 6-4 4-6 7-6 (9/7) 7-6 (7/5).
Murray was punished for being too passive in the opening set and, although he bounced back in the second, Roddick's bullet serving and consistent all-round game earned him a third Wimbledon final appearance against Roger Federer.
Murray said: "You always expect your opponents to play well at this stage of the tournament. I had a few chances in the first tie-break and chances early in the third set and I didn't take them.
"I thought I played well.
"He served really, really well.
"Hitting at that pace at such a high percentage, sometimes there's not a whole lot you can do."
He believes he can come back stronger and learn to both play and beat the big guns at big tournaments.
"The last few slams that I've lost, I've come up against some guys that have played great, great tennis," he said.
"Mentally, for me, I've got much better at it, understanding that guys can do that against you. That's happened to me a few times now in slams.
"I need to keep making sure I bring my best game to the court in every match."
Roddick's phenomenal serve was working well from the outset and to prove it, he sent down the fastest delivery of the tournament at 143mph. Murray, in contrast, started slowly and was caught out as he lost the first set 6-4.
The British No 1 took a comfort break and came back with a newly-aggressive attitude to break immediately in the second set and held on to make it 1-1.
The third set began in identical fashion to the second as Murray moved to 0-40 on the Roddick serve. But this time the American saved himself with a superb lunging volley at 30-40 denying his opponent a second break of serve. And it proved crucial as the set went to a tie-break and Roddick took it
9-7.
The sixth seed was serving at 75 per cent of first serves in and he held firm in the fourth set to set up a second tie-break.
There were signs of fatigue in the Murray game, and Roddick took full advantage to seal a hugely impressive victory.
Roddick, 26, said: "I had to play my best tennis to win today. Not many people were giving me much of a chance.
"Throughout my career I've had a lot of shortcomings but trying hard isn't one of them. He had all the pressure on him. It's just a dream."
For Roddick, a third Wimbledon final is the biggest achievement so far of a year in which he has appeared rejuvenated.
The American began working with renowned coach Larry Stefanki in December and, after an off-season spent focusing on his fitness, Roddick has reaped the benefits.
Tomorrow's match against Federer, a rematch of the 2004 and 2005 finals that the Swiss won, will be Roddick's first appearance in a grand slam showpiece since the US Open final in 2006.
Reflecting on his win over Murray, he said: "In recent years, it's certainly up there with some of the best matches that I have played.
"Playing a player of his rank, his calibre, in his atmosphere. He was certainly in form going into the match. I had to play my best tennis to win.
"You don't go back to a Wimbledon final by accident. It certainly is a process. And it's probably been a longer process than I would have liked. But I've enjoyed everything that has gone into it. I did work real hard and have been committed from everything to diet to sleep to everything. So I gave myself every opportunity to succeed.
"I didn't know if I was going to get to play a final of Wimbledon again, I'm thankful to have that opportunity."
Roddick pinpointed the first game of the third set, where he recovered from 0-40 to hold serve, as the decisive moment.
"You're probably not going to get out of a 0-40 hole too often against a guy who returns like him," he continued. "So that was definitely key."
After his triumph, Roddick knelt down on the stairs leading away from Centre Court in a moment of contemplation.
"I didn't know anybody saw that," he admitted. "It was just me taking a second to try to make myself maybe believe that I was actually going to go into the Wimbledon locker room having done that."
He may have come out on top this time but he is in no doubt Murray will win a grand slam.
"He's going to break through and win numerous titles," said the American. "He's too good not to. It's a matter of time, not if, but when."
Nice words indeed, but the wait for a British winner at Wimbledon goes on.
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Saturday 26 May 2012
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