LONDON, (Reuters) – Rafael Nadal almost looked apologetic as he whispered words of consolation into Andy Murray’s ear after he made sure yesterday that Britain’s wait for a men’s Wimbledon champion would roll into a 75th year.
But moments earlier, the 2008 champion had played the role of dream wrecker to perfection as he roared into his fourth final at the All England Club by inflicting a painful 6-4 7-6 6-4 defeat on Murray.
After eyeing Murray’s lashed volley drop beyond the dusty baseline, Nadal collapsed on to his back and appeared as if he was celebrating winning a second title at the holy grail of tennis instead of merely booking a final with Tomas Berdych.
“I wished him best of luck for the rest of the season, and sorry for today,” Nadal said of his net exchange with Murray.
“I know it was an important match for him. I felt sorry for him because he’s a very nice person.”
Nadal’s victory condemned British men to a 10-match losing streak in Wimbledon semi-finals, with Murray’s two flops adding to the failures of Mike Sangster (one), Roger Taylor (three) and Tim Henman (four).
The giant-killing run of Berdych, who sensationally ended Roger Federer’s pursuit of a seventh title in the quarters, showed no signs of slowing down after he dashed Novak Djokovic’s hopes of a maiden grasscourt title with a 6-3 7-6 6-3 win in the other semi-final.
“I think (for) every young kid who first time hits the ball, this is the dream to be in the final of any grand slam. If you can do it at Wimbledon it’s amazing,” said Berdych, the first Czech man since Ivan Lendl in 1987 to reach the final here.
“It couldn’t get better.”
GRIPPING CONTEST
For Murray, things could not get much worse as he was again left to scratch his stubble and contemplate what might have been after losing in the semis for the second year running.
With the whole of Britain expecting Murray to become the first homegrown man to reach the final since Bunny Austin in 1938, even former England soccer captain David Beckham dropped in to Centre Court to see what all the fuss was about.
He was treated to a gripping contest featuring intense baseline rallies, thundering forehands and sumptuous volleys.
But luck was not on Murray’s side as his hopes flatlined thanks to a double fault, a phone ring and a bouncing netcord.
Locked at 4-4 in the first set, Murray’s first double fault of the day allowed Nadal to get his foot in the door.
A whipped forehand winner followed by a Murray forehand error completed the break and left the Mallorcan leaping in celebration while at the other end of the rectangle a disgusted Murray repeatedly punched himself, unable to believe the way in which he had surrendered his serve.
That was enough for Nadal to seal the set and the world number one was fortunate to escape unscathed when he was 15-40 down in the eighth game of the second.
As Nadal launched into his serve, a phone started to ring out in the stands. Murray lost his focus and blasted the return into the net. Clearly annoyed, he turned around 180 degrees to try and spot the offending fan and shrugged his shoulders in frustration.
That missed opportunity continued to mess with his mind as he also blew the next break point, allowing a pumped up Nadal to dig himself out of a hole and drag the set into a tiebreak.
