London - Rafael Nadal torched Andy Murray`s Wimbledon dream for the second time in three years on Friday as the marauding Spaniard grounded rising British hopes to roar into his fourth final at the grand slam.
For all but a few minutes of a compelling two hour 22 minute Centre Court duel there was not a cigarette paper between the players but Nadal gobbled up the rare opportunities Murray offered to win 6-4 7-6 6-4 and move into Sunday`s showpiece against Czech Tomas Berdych who overpowered Novak Djokovic.
The 24-year-old Mallorcan has now won 13 consecutive matches at Wimbledon and is three sets from regaining the title he won in 2008 before injury kept him away last year.
"I never like comparisons," French open champion Nadal, said when asked if he was playing as well now as when he beat Roger Federer here two years ago in one of the best finals ever seen.
"Every year is completely different but for me this was an amazing day, a very important victory for me, one of the more difficult victories of my career."
Earlier in the tournament Murray played regally to entertain Queen Elizabeth but with David Beckham, England`s former soccer prince, watching on, he fell just short of becoming Britain`s first men`s singles finalist since 1938.
As he swished a forehand volley beyond the dusty baseline on Nadal`s first match point, the groan from the masses perched on Henman Hill peering at the large screen were probably audible all the way across to Buckingham Palace.
Home Hopes
Little blame could be attached to Murray, though, who had carried home hopes on his own since the first Tuesday by which time every other British player had gone out in the first round.
Even 2008 champion Nadal, one of the fiercest fighters the game has witnessed, seemed to feel the pain. "I wished him best of luck for the rest of the season, and sorry for today," Nadal said of his net exchange with a crestfallen Murray.
"I know it was an important match for him. I felt sorry for him because he`s a very nice person."
That would be scant consolation for Murray who again just failed when it mattered. The Scot began the year losing to Roger Federer in the Australian Open final, as he did in the 2008 U.S.
Open final just a few months after being outplayed by Nadal in the Wimbledon quarter-finals.
Last year here it was an inspired Andy Roddick who ambushed him in the semis and the defeats get ever more painful.
"This is a little bit more disappointing than other grand slams because this one is the biggest one of the year for me.
It`s tough," a despondent Murray told a news conference minutes after walking off court.
"I haven`t seen the stats, but I would guess it was the difference of maybe five or six points in the match."
Actually it was seven, which illustrated just how tightly contested the match had been.
Resistance Crack
Only when Nadal broke back to level the third set at 4-4 did fourth seed Murray`s resistance finally crack and two games later the Spaniard was flat on his back in celebration.
Beckham`s arrival added to the huge sense of anticipation as the players walked out on court for their 11th career meeting and fifth in grand slam play.
Two years ago Murray was thrashed by Nadal but his performances here this time, together with a few dropped sets for Nadal and Roger Federer`s exit, elevated hopes to
fever-pitch proportions.
One poor game at 4-4 cost Murray the first set when a double fault and a fluffed forehand had the 23-year-old beating his fist into his arm in frustration.
Murray was the cleaner hitter in the second set and dropped just two points on his serve before the tiebreak on which the match was to hinge.
He had missed two break points when Nadal served at 3-4 in the set but as the tension became suffocating in the tiebreak he was gifted a set point when Nadal double-faulted at 5-5.
The Spaniard`s nerve was armour-plated as he produced a stunning drop volley to level at 6-6. He then got lucky when a fizzing backhand pass flicked off the net and jumped over Murray`s racket frame.
Nadal clinched the set with a pummelling forehand winner and Murray bounced his racket angrily into the turf.
There seemed hope when Murray started brightly in the third set, breaking Nadal to love to the delight of the partisan crowd but their joy did not last long as Nadal broke back in the eighth game and broke again to seal victory. (A008/C003/S026)
Source: http://www.antaranews.com