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Enlarge PhotoBritain's Andy Murray reacts during a news conference after being defeated by Spain's Rafael Nadal... Andy Murray must be sick of hearing about how one day he will win a grand slam title.The 23-year-old Briton wants one now.
Unfortunately, when the silverware is glinting in his eye, he keeps running into two of the greatest players to swing a racket or an opponent playing the match of his life.
In the 2008 U.S. Open final he was taken apart by Roger Federer and fell to the Swiss maestro again in this year's Australian Open title match, after which he broke down in tears.
On Friday, one year after an inspired Andy Rod**** served him off court in the Wimbledon semi-finals, Murray was cut down by marauding Spaniard Rafael Nadal just when it looked as though his time may finally have arrived.
Murray had only dropped one set going into Friday's semi-final against the world number one at Wimbledon and with Federer already sent packing, his 11th career meeting with Nadal had began to look like a final in disguise.
With Czech Tomas Berdych waiting in the final, a wave of optimism swept the All England Club as Murray walked out on a sunlit Centre Court but after two hours and 22 minutes of compelling action he trudged off to digest a 6-4 7-6 6-4 defeat.
It would be scant consolation for the Scot that the match was the highest quality of the fortnight and his performance was far superior to the one he produced two years ago when Nadal thrashed him on the way to the title.
RUTHLESS EFFICIENCY
His tactics too could not be faulted.
He served superbly for two sets, attacked at every opportunity and matched second seed in pretty much every department.
The one crucial difference was that when Nadal's chance arrived, he converted them with ruthless efficiency whereas Murray failed to seize his moments.
In the final reckoning that is what grand slam champions do and until Murray discovers a ruthless streak against the real top guns of world tennis he will find the game's big prizes continue to elude him.
It would be churlish to criticise Murray for his defeat by Nadal on Friday.
One poor service game cost him the first set. Then when he had set point on his serve in the second, he dunked in a weak second serve that Nadal swarmed all over before ending the point with a nerveless drop volley.
He also failed to convert two break points midway through the second set.
Small details maybe, but they are the slender margins that make the difference between players like Federer and Nadal, and before them Pete Sampras and Jimmy Connors, and the rest.
INITIAL DISAPPOINTMENT
So what now for Murray?
"I have no idea. I'll probably go on holiday and stay away from the tennis court for a while," a demoralised Murray told reporters after his gut-wrenching defeat.
Once he gets over the initial disappointment, Murray should look back on the tournament with a degree of satisfaction because Nadal had to be close to his best to win on Friday.
The downside is that next year, unless Britain suddenly discovers some talent to keep Murray company, he will be weighed down with national expectations once again just as four-times semi-finalist Tim Henman was before him.
Murray, however, refused to offer that as an excuse.
"There's a lot much pressure playing here but it doesn't affect the outcome of the matches," he said.
"It's not a valid excuse to make. I've played really well the whole tournament. I obviously want to win for myself. I want to win for the guys I work with. I want to win for the UK.
"I mean, a few weeks ago no one would have given me much of a hope of getting to the semis because I wasn't playing well. Then I played a good tournament."
(Editing by Alison Wildey
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