The collective shriek of disappointment around Centre Court said it all.

There was to be no history. Not British anyway. And Fred Perry's 73-year Wimbledon record was safe for one more year at least as Andy Murray finally bowed to the surreal hype and burden of expectation when he was defeated 6-4 4-6 7-6 7-6 in a compelling semi-final by Andy Roddick.

Actually, in the end it wasn't so much the weight of expectation which did for Murray as the sustained brilliance of the man with the fastest, most concussive serve in tennis.

Quite simply Roddick played brilliantly and to Murray's credit he was the first to recognise he had been beaten by the better man on the day.

"He served great, really, really well in the tie-breaks," said Murray.

"I had a few chances and I didn't take them. It just came down to a few points here and there on his serves and sometimes there is not a whole lot you can do."

That told part of the story but not the whole because this was not just a serving exhibition. Rather it evolved into an act of redemption by a man who has been beset by disappointment and underachievement and who has shed more than a stone in an effort to resurrect his career.

Murray did not play badly. He did not let anyone down. He did not shrink in the face of the occasion as Tim Henman had done in semi-finals in the past.

True, his second serve was vulnerable and his backhand not as reliable as usual, but he was beaten by a man who served and volleyed as well as he has ever done. Who played rallies of composure and hit groundstrokes with venom. Who mixed up his game with drop shots and changes of pace, the like of which we did not think him capable.

There is no shame in being beaten by such a man, a former world number one who has contested the Wimbledon final twice before and been to two US Open finals, one of which he won.

A man who had a point to prove as he inferred later.

"I can play good tennis sometimes," said Roddick. "Not many people gave me a chance. Through my career I've had a lot of shortcomings but trying hard is not one of them."

In truth, there was no lack of effort on either side of the net and if anything it was a match which proved that Murray one day, and sooner rather than later, will get his hands on a grand slam trophy.

So to the match and the first set saw a strangely subdued Murray. Tense and tentative, as if constrained by the chains of history.

Perhaps that also had something to do with the empty seats on Centre Court, which saw the match begin with just 15 people in a Royal Box which houses 75. The Wimbledon canapes truly must be appetising.

Mostly it had to do with Roddick who came out ready to rally with Murray, prepared to take him on at his own favourite drop shot, one of which saw the American gain the crucial break point in the 10th game.

Some players might have been down after such a lacklustre start. Murray simply employed Plan B. Hit the ball harder. Serve faster. Scream louder.

The step-up in aggression worked, and he broke Roddick to love in the first game of the second set. Now the crowd were in their seats. Now Murray was reading the Roddick serve better. Now Murray was in the match, taking the set with some panache.

You would go a long way to see a set more charged with emotion and determination and tension than the third.

At the heart of it Murray was warned by umpire Pascal Maria for an audible obscenity which he vehemently denied uttering.

"Give me some idea of what you think I said," Murray demanded of the umpire. The answer was not to Murray's liking. "Well you are wrong, 100%. I said, 'Come on. Pass!'."

Which did appear to be the case and, anyway, that was exactly what Murray did thereafter, especially on the backhand side, as if bolstered by the injustice, to reclaim an early break of serve and set up a tie-break which turned the Centre Court into a screeching cacophony of patriotism.

Emotions seldom come rawer. Sport does not come better.

Three straight aces from Murray. One 138mph blast from Roddick. Set points which came and went until a Murray mis-hit handed the initiative to Roddick.

And so to the final tie-break with Murray behind, scrambling, and Roddick pounding down those serves until the match was won and he sunk to his knees, put his hand to his head, wore that vaguely bewildered look and finally applauded the crowd who had tried so hard to assist his opponent.

That is the measure of Roddick.

So in the month which marks 40 years since man first walked on the Moon, an American will take on Roger Federer in the Wimbledon final.

Just being there again is one giant leap for Andy Roddick.