ANOTHER QUINTESSENTIAL, Wimbledon evening; two players duelling in the sun, a dark shadow creeping from the west stand across Centre Court and a British player howling at the sky and scuffing wisps of grass with his racquet.

In the stands the crowd once again bullied their way into this tight semi-final match between Andy Murray and Andy Roddick, all of them urging on the Scot, none of them remembering the last time a British player had ever been in a Wimbledon final.

That was 1938 when Bunny Austin managed to creep out from the shadow of Fred Perry, who had left to eek out a life playing professionally.

But it was Murray who was screaming and it was Murray, who was asking himself the questions as this intensely charged and finely matched contest trickled away from him 6-4, 4-6, 7-6 (9-7), 7-6 (7-5). It was Murray too, who finally left disconsolate and disbelieving that a player he had beaten six times in their eight career meetings had just knocked him out of the championship.

Roddick, too, had that vacant, almost distraught look when he finally converted match point after three hours and seven minutes, his eyes sunken back and sweat dripping from the peak of his cap as he dropped to his knees and covered his eyes. The player, who three years ago said he didn’t want to be the one who beat Andre Agassi in the US Open because he’d be “the guy who shot Bambi”, emptied both barrels into Murray at every opportunity.

“He served great, served really, really well in the tie breaks. I think he maybe missed two first serves,” said Murray afterwards. “I had a few chances in the first tie-break. I had chances early in the third set. I didn’t take them.”

But the 26-year-old Roddick arrived this year with a more polished net game and the same phenomenal serve that got him to two Wimbledon finals, in 2004 and 2005, both of which ended disappointingly against Roger Federer.

He also returns having almost walked away from the game a year ago as he questioned whether he could sustain a career at the top of the tennis food chain. The answer he heard coming back was yes and with a new diet and training regime, a new coach, a new wife and a changed attitude, Roddick has made it to his first Grand Slam final since the 2006 US Open.

“You don’t go back to a Wimbledon final by accident. It certainly is a process,” he said. “And it’s probably been a longer process than I would have liked. Brook (wife) and I had a lot of talks . . . if I still thought I could be towards the top of the game. I definitely openly questioned it.

“So this off-season we said, you know what, if you’re not gonna be up there, let’s at least not wonder. Let’s prepare yourself and give yourself every opportunity.”

And it was the loaded right arm that finally throttled Murray, one of the best returners of serve in the world. But if any game hinged on the few big points this was it. Murray hit more aces, more total winners and less unforced errors than Roddick and lost. The American was hitting his first serve in at a consistent 75 per cent and those balls were travelling at an average speed of 127 mph over the four attritional sets.

Roddick took the first set 6-4 when he converted his only break point in the 10th game. Murray came back in the second, fist pumping and gesturing to the crowd. He immediately took the Roddick serve in the first game of the second set and held for 6-4 for parity.

Tiny margins separated the two players. But the third set is where Murray saw the match tip towards Roddick, who slipped 0-40 in the first game and Murray could not convert. The two did exchange serves to send the set to a tie-break but Murray had left behind four break points that he was unable to turn to his favour and the set fell to the tie-break specialist, Roddick.

While Murray stayed with Roddick, his serve was not matching that of the American. He mixed the tempo of his game; he argued with the umpire; he slapped the net and he raged at the crowd, urging them to give him a lift.

Inevitably the fourth set rolled to another tie-break, the preserve of the serve. Murray sank to 2-5 and Roddick had Bambi in his sights.

At the end the crowd rose for both players, disappointed for Murray but, critically, not discouraged. “He’s going to break through and win one of these titles and probably numerous ones,” said Roddick. “He’s too good not to. In my mind it’s a matter of time. It’s not if, but when.”

TODAY

Women’s Singles Final, Centre Court, 2pm

(2) Serena Williams (US) v (3) Venus Williams (US)

TOMORROW

Men’s Singles Final, Centre Court, 2pm

(2) Roger Federer (Swi) v (6) Andy Roddick (US)