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Enlarge Photo Spain's Rafael Nadal celebrates defeating Britain's Andy Murray in their men's semi-final match at the... After watching last year's Wimbledon final at home on television, Rafael Nadal is one win away from recovering the title he lost through knee injury.The Spanish world number one seized what few chances were on offer to overcome Britain's Andy Murray 6-4 7-6 6-4 in a semi-final that was jam-packed with top-quality tennis to book a place against Czech Tomas Berdych in the final.
"For me it was an amazing day, a very important victory for me, one of the more difficult victories of my career because the opponent was playing well and I really needed to play my best tennis to try to win," Nadal, immaculate in a white tracksuit top and shorts, told reporters.
After defeating one British sporting hero, Nadal met another -- former England soccer captain David Beckham who had been part of the Centre Court crowd.
"He's a big star outside of the stadium. But for me, what I admire a lot of him is when he's in the stadium, he fights like the best of them, more than the rest," Nadal said.
Fight is something Nadal had in abundance.
The 24-year-old appears to be hitting top form at the grasscourt tournament but he was twice forced to dig deep on his way to the semis with five-set wins against Dutchman Robin Haase and Germany's Philipp Petzschner.
Crucially, the seven-times grand slam champion is also free of the pain from his troublesome knees after some early scares during the tournament.
"I think I didn't have any problem for the last three matches," the left-hander said. "But the pain in the second and especially in the third match is not forgotten."
"It can be there and can't be there in one moment, and I don't have the control of this."
Asked if he was playing as well now as when he beat Roger Federer in 2008, in what is regarded as the best Wimbledon final, Nadal said: "I never like comparisons.
"Every year is completely different but for me this was an amazing day, a very important victory for me, one of the more difficult victories of my career.
It has been a tough 12 months or so for Nadal. He took two months out of the game following his shock fourth-round defeat in the 2009 French Open but following his return did not win a title until the Monte Carlo Masters in April.
Since then, however, Nadal has steadily been reclaiming them, including a fifth French Open crown last month.
"It wasn't an easy year last year, especially the second half of the year... I feel I've been playing at my best since the start of this season.
"But I didn't win a tournament for 11 months, and after I started to win in Monte Carlo... that's makes it more special, because I worked a lot to be back playing my best tennis."
Having been there himself, Nadal was able to offer some words of comfort to deflated fourth seed Murray.
"I wished him best of luck for the rest of the season, and sorry for today. I know it was an important match for him I think because he play at home, and this is a chance for him to win probably the most important title for him.
"I am sure he's going to win a grand slam very soon, because when you have a final in the U.S Open, a final in Australia, semi-finals here this year and the last year, you are there all the time. So one day you win."
(Editing by Martyn Herman) (For more news on Reuters India, click http://in.reuters.com)
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