Murray laments small margins

Murray: Despondent after defeat

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Andy Murray felt his Wimbledon semi-final defeat to Andy Roddick came down to the smallest of margins.

The British No. 1 was biding to become the first male finalist at the All-England Club in 71 years, but the 22-year-old's dream of becoming the first SW19 champion since Fred Perry in 1936 came to an end for another year after being edged out 6-4 4-6 7-6 (9/7) 7-6 (7-5) by the American No. 6 seed.

Murray, who fired 25 aces and 76 winners in the three hours and seven minutes contest, felt there was not a lot more he could have done on Centre Court.

"I thought I played well," said the Scot. "I had fewer unforced errors, made more aces and hit more winners, but it came down to just a few points on his serve,".

"He was serving very close to the lines and hitting in the high 70s. There's not a lot you can do about it."

Contender

The Briton believes his semi-final conqueror should not be written off in the final despite the American having lost 18 of his 20 matches against Sunday's opponent Roger Federer.

"If he serves like he did today, he has a chance," added Murray of Roddick, who lost to the Swiss star in his previous two Wimbledon final appearances.

Roddick, meanwhile, insists he always believed he could get past Murray and reach his third final at the Championships.

"I had to play my best tennis today," the 2003 US Open champion concluded. "I can't say enough good things about Andy's game but I can play some tennis sometimes.

"Not many people gave me a chance but I knew if I stayed the course I had a shot."

Standing in Roddick's way is Federer, who earlier defeated German 31-year-old Tommy Haas 7-6 (7/3), 7-5, 6-3 to reach a seventh straight Wimbledon final and a record 20th Grand Slam title match.

The world No. 2 will be gunning for a record 15th Grand Slam title which will take him past Pete Sampras' mark of 14, which the 27-year-old equalled with his first French Open title last month.

Roddick, who like Federer is a former world No. 1, will be playing in his first major final since 2006 where he also fell to the Swiss' sword.