Andy Murray's Wimbledon hopes crushed yet again in a Semi

A despondent Murray speaks to the media after his defeat to Rafa Nadal in the Semis (Independent)

2-1 in the second set, and 15-30 on Rafa Nadal's serve after taking the first set, Andy Murray was about to lay the foundations of defeating the now former World No.1. That was until an overhit drive volley curtailed his amazing progress and then coincided with the loss of seven straight games. Murray's mental collapse was costly as he wakes up to a new week knowing he could, and possibly should have won Wimbledon 2011 knowing Novak Djokovic's achievements yesterday.

Murray dominated exchanges in the opening set, firing forehand winners and exerting authority over the 25-year old Spaniard. The crowd reached its crescendo in game 12, when an error-strewn game from Nadal gifted Murray the set. And going with serve for the first three games in the second, Murray dragged Nadal away ready for a driven forehand. Unfortunately, the Scot hit long by 2 inches, and it the high-risk tennis which put paid to his chances. What was going so right for him at the early stages, certainly was there at the heart of the match.

High risk and under confidence were never the recipe for success. He folded under the increasing pressure of Nadal's defence and virtually conceded the second set 6-2. The same pattern emerged in the third, as Murray's forehand dissipated, and Nadal's defence impenetrable as ever. Same set score 6-2. But the fourth set, even when Nadal secured a break in the first game, Murray gave home fans some degree of hope when he had break point opportunities at 1-2. The Spaniard though was unrelenting as he was unforgiving as he held serve through punishing groundstrokes and successfully held serve for the rest of the match to win 5-7, 6-2, 6-2, 6-4. Murray's Wimbledon dreams over for another year in his quest for the illusive 'Slam'.

Murray forced the issue, but gave himself very little margin for error. But as sorry the British support were, was as much angry the nation was in the Scot's mental collapse from that unforced error in the second set. It has been a major flaw in his game in his development as a Tour player, and it is still getting the better of him today in the heat of the moment final stages of Grand Slams.

The US Open remains Murray's best hope for a GS. And basing on his recent form, it is hard to say he cannot perform at Flushing Meadows in August. Only his mind can tell whether he can provide that challenge many expect from the 24-year old.