Roddick dashes UK dream to meet Federer in final

07-04-2009 | AFP

Andy Murray was trying to become the first British winner since Perry in 1936

Panama Star WIMBLEDON. London. Andy Roddick ended Andy Murray's dream of becoming the first British men's Wimbledon champion since 1936 on Friday with a 6-4, 4-6, 7-6 (9/7), 7-6 (7/5) semi-final victory.

The American sixth seed will tackle five-time champion Roger Federer in Sunday's title match in a repeat of the 2004 and 2005 finals both of which he lost to the great Swiss.

Federer had earlier defeated German 31-year-old Tommy Haas 7-6 (7/3), 7-5, 6-3 to reach a seventh straight Wimbledon final and a record 20th Grand Slam title match.

World number two Federer will be going for a record 15th Grand Slam title which will take him past Pete Sampras's mark of 14 which he equalled with his first French Open title last month.

Roddick, the 2003 US Open winner, will be playing in his first major final since 2006.

"I had to play my best tennis today. I can't say enough good things about Andy's game but I can play some tennis sometimes," said Roddick.

"Not many people gave me a chance but I knew if I stayed the course I had a shot."

Roddick, who had lost to Murray in straight sets in the third round here in 2006, showed there is more to his game than a sledgehammer serve and power-packed forehands by cleverly mixing up his game in the opening set.