Andy Murray's Wimbledon dream was ended by an inspired Andy Roddick in a four-set semi-final defeat.

Murray carried the hopes of a nation starved of success but Britain's long national nightmare, a stain on its sporting character, will continue. 73 years of hurt will become 74.

Fred Perry, a player only remembered in black and white photographs and smudgy newsreels, is still the best to offer after Roddick upset the form book and dismayed the home crowd with a 6-4, 4-6, 7-6, 7-6 semi-final victory.

"I thought I played well," Murray told the BBC.

"I hit more winners than him, less unforced errors, more aces, it just came down to a few points here and there.

"It came down to his serve and he served very, very well. There's not a whole lot you can do. I definitely didn't play a bad match."

"I had to play my best tennis to win. I can't say enough good things about Andy Murray," said Roddick

"But I can play some tennis sometimes, not many people gave me much of a chance but I knew I had a shot.

"Throughout my career I've had a lot of shortcomings but trying hard is never one of them. He had a lot of pressure on him and that probably helped me.

"The last couple of years I didn't know whether I'd play for another Grand Slam title, it's just a dream."