Murray crashes out to A-Rod

Murray: Waves goodbye to his SW19 hopes in 2009

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Andy Roddick has ended Andy Murray's dream of making the Wimbledon final by beating the British No.1 in four sets.

The American former World No. 1 sealed the famous victory in three hours and seven minutes, recording a 6-4 4-6 7-6 (9-7) 7-6 (7-5) result.

The 26-year-old, who now resumes his SW19 rivalry with five times champion Roger Federer on Sunday, edged out home favourite Murray with two close tie-breakers proving the difference on the day.

Roddick was looking to reach his third Wimbledon final while Murray had history against him as he aimed to become the first British man to reach the final since Bunny Austin in 1938.

Some 71 years had elapsed since the British public saw a male finalist in their home major and not since Tim Henman's career have the United Kingdom had someone to cheer in the last four.

The eagerly anticipated semi-final began with both players firing down their serves and the opening set had all the hallmarks of a tense tie-break.

Surprise

That was until the 10th game where, out of nowhere, Roddick earned a set-point on Murray's serve and, after a lengthy exchange, the American came out on top to defy the script.

Roddick, under the stewardship of coach Larry Stefanki, clearly found a game-plan to get the better of Murray and the No. 6 seed's patient approach paid dividends in the opener.

It was up to the Scot to be the aggressor in the second set and crank up the volume on Centre Court, and the 22-year-old changed the complexion of the match by breaking the former US Open Champion to love in the opening game.

Pumped up, Murray produced a stellar serving display - launching three aces and a forehand winner - to consolidate the break.

Roddick got his name on the board in the third game, but Murray was oozing confidence and the No. 3 seed was quick to hold his serve.

The eighth service game posed a question of Murray's resolve when Roddick took the Dunblaner to deuce, but the world No. 3 came through that test unblemished and moved within one game of the set.

Roddick held, but it proved insignificant as the British No. 1 clinched the second set to the delight of the partisan crowd.

Break-points

The third set was only three points old when Murray had notched up three break points on the Roddick serve, but the Texan showed bullish resolve to see off all three and it was soon the 26-year-old's chance to hold break points against his opponent's serve.

Murray - two break points down - produced a spectacular forehand lob and an awesome backhand down-the-line, but Roddick broke through at the fourth time of trying and converted on his own serve to lead 4-1.

Umpire Pascal Maria gave Murray a warning for using foul language in the fifth game and, with the Scot fired up even further by a decision he called "100% wrong", the 22-year-old clawed back the break at 5-3 when Roddick sent a backhand long.

Neither player budged as the set entered a tie-break - Roddick fancied his chances having won 28 of 24 breakers this season and the American's record came to the fore as he led 4-2 at the change of ends.

But a turnaround courtesy of some super Murray serving saw the first set point go the Scot's way but, having failed to convert, it was Roddick that moved within one set of the final after producing a unreturnable forehand.

The first break point of the fourth set came in the eighth game when Murray carved a glimmer of light out of the shadowed Centre Court, but Roddick was cool under pressure and levelled the scores at 4-4.

Like the third, the fourth set then went into a tie-break and it was Roddick who again took the early advantage with a mini-break and a 5-3 lead.

Murray responded taking a cross-court backhand to the line before failing by inches with a hawk-eye challenge on the next point.

That brought up two match points for Roddick, the first which Murray staved off with an incredible backhand pass, but it was not to be for the British No. 1 as Roddick secured a final berth as Murray dumped a forehand into the net.