Roddick roars after Federer magic show

By Martyn Herman

LONDON (Reuters) - Roger Federer sprinkled his magic all over Center Court on Friday before Andy Roddick bludgeoned Andy Murray into the hallowed turf to leave Britain still seeking its first post-war men''s singles finalist at Wimbledon.

Record-hunting Swiss Federer was at his dazzling best, beating resurgent German Tommy Haas 7-6 7-5 6-3 to reach his seventh men''s singles final here, a feat not achieved since the abolition of the Challenge Round in 1922.

Federer''s virtuoso performance watched by the lucky 15,000 with Center Court tickets was supposed to the curtain-raiser for the thousands massing in front of the huge screen on the grassy expanse known as Henman Hill for the Murray blockbuster later.

However, the Scot fluffed his lines and was outplayed in his first Wimbledon semi-final by American former world number one Roddick, losing 6-4 4-6 7-6 7-6 as Murray-mania fizzled out and disappointed fans headed to the bars to drown their sorrows.

Roddick, beaten by Federer in the 2004 and 2005 finals here, has not contested the championship match at a grand slam since the 2006 U.S. Open, but appears to have re-discovered the spark.

He was inspired against Murray, not only on his trusty serve which boomed down 21 aces but, more surprisingly, at the baseline and around the net where he displayed the kind of all-court craft many thought was beyond him.

There was one large slice of luck when he faced set point in the third set tiebreak, framing a winning volley, but he appeared nerveless as he clinched victory on his second match point after Murray had saved the first with a stunning crosscourt backhand that produced a deafening roar.

"You don''t go back to a Wimbledon final by accident," the 26-year-old Roddick, who topped the rankings in 2003 after winning his sole grand slam title at Flushing Meadows, told reporters when asked about his revival.

"It certainly is a process. And it''s probably been a longer process than I would have liked.

"I''m excited about this one. I didn''t know if I was going to get to play a final of Wimbledon again."

He was bundled out in the second round by Janko Tipsarevic last year -- a defeat he said made him take a long, hard look at where his career was heading.

"Last year after I played here, that was a hard, hard couple of weeks. You know, (wife) Brook and I had a lot of talks on if I still thought I could play toward the top of the game. I definitely openly questioned it at that point.

"I did work real hard and have been committed from everything to diet to sleep to everything. I certainly gave myself every opportunity to succeed."

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Murray, who had been trumpeted by the British media as the man to finally emulate Bunny Austin''s run to the final in 1938, looked shattered by his defeat but said he would bounce back.  Continued...