Andy Murray has been left devastated after he crashed out of
Wimbledon in straight sets to Switzerland's Roger Federer.
The 28-year-old's dream at the championship was over less than three hours after he stepped onto Centre Court at the All England Club this afternoon.
Fans sitting on Murray Mound held their head in their hands while Murray's wife Kim Sears and his mother Judy looked gutted in the players' box, after Federer clinched the sets 7-5, 7-5, 6-5.
Distressed: Murray rubbed his temples and put a firm hand through his hair as he told a packed press conference it had been a 'tough' loss
Loser: He told the room full of waiting reporters 'all losses hurt, obviously, especially in the major events, but here is always tough'
Gutted: Murray looked disappointed after he crashed out of Wimbledon losing out to Roger Federer in straight sets in less than three hours
Fist pump: Roger Federer gives a smile to the 'silent' crowd as he proceeds through the final while Murray's wife Kim, who had been cheering him on throughout Friday's match, appeared shocked after he crashed out of the semi-finals
Shock: Fans held their head in their hands as they watched the moment he crashed out from the big television screens on Murray Mound today
Gutted: Fans looked upset after their hopes of a British Wimbledon champion was dashed when Murray dramatically crashed out earlier today
Dashed hopes: There were various reactions from spectators that made their way down to Wimbledon to watch Murray's match today
A disappointed Murray said that losing at Wimbledon is tougher than anywhere else and put his loss down to his opponents winning serve.
'All losses hurt, obviously, especially in the major events, but here is always tough,' he said.
'I feel like this is my best chance to win a slam. When I play here, I feel like it's my best surface. I played consistently well here throughout my career. So it's tough in that aspect.'
He added: 'I played pretty well but he served really well. I could have done more returning-wise a few times. I don't know if it was close to his peak, you'd have to ask him, but that was definitely the best he's served against me.
'He clearly deserved to win the match. At times I played some very good tennis. I served well, probably the best I've served in the tournament, so it's tough. I definitely don't feel I played a bad match.'
He added: 'I don't know how I'm going to feel tomorrow, tonight, a few days. It's tough and I always feel like Wimbledon is my best chance of winning a major because it's my favourite and the support of the crowd helps. It helps me play my best tennis too.
'I still hope I have a few more years competing at the top of the game. I have to go and look back at this week as a whole and see the things I need to work on to get better.
'I feel I'm playing much better tennis than last year and I feel like I played some good tennis today and Roger played fantastic and served extremely well.'
Andy Murray hides his face with his towel as he walks off Centre Court after being knocked out of the semi-finals by Roger Federer
The 28-year-old's dream at the championship was over less than three hours after stepping on to Centre Court on Friday
The tennis player fumed on Centre Court, screaming and holding his hands out in frustration after losing the sets 5-7, 5-7 on Friday
The long-time rivals shook hands after their match with Federer now on track to win his eighth Wimbledon title and play in his tenth final at the prestigious tournament
Gracious: Murray shakes hands with the 33-year-old Swiss player at the end of the match as Federer goes through to the final on Sunday
In his press conference following the match, Murray praised Federer's efforts and described him as an 'unbelievable tennis player'
Devastated: Murray was visibly disappointed after crashing out and told reporters that losing at Wimbledon is tougher than anywhere else
Dazed: Murray wipes sweat onto his T-shirt after realising his hopes of winning Wimbledon 2015 are well and truly over
Shattered: Murray looked disappointed as he carried his bag from Centre Court (left) while Roger Federer threw a casual fist in the air (right)
His brother Jamie Murray is still clinging onto hopes of a British win after he got through to the doubles final yesterday - but his sibling said he 'certainly' won't be watching the final live from the stands.
Murray added: 'I may come and be here and see what the score is. If it's close to finishing, I'll maybe try to go out and watch the last game or two. But I find it very, very difficult watching. I would love to but I get extremely nervous.'
But today's painful defeat means Murray and Jamie will miss out on being the first two brothers to play singles and doubles finals at the same Wimbledon for 109 years.
Within two hours of play on Friday evening Murray and Federer had already played five deuces in the second set. They arrived on Centre Court to rapturous applause shortly after 4pm.
By 6.30pm the match was over, with a sombre silence falling over the court as the British favourite conceded defeat.
Speaking of his victory, Federer - who has dropped serve only once in the entire tournament - said it had been tinged by the disappointment of the crowd.
'Andy's been playing very well for the season and there's so much expectation riding on the match that you try to focus and keep it up. It got really tough.
'I'm unbelievably happy. I maybe didn't show it as much because the crowd went silent a little bit. People may have expected it to go to four or five sets, me as well.
'I played so well on the biggest occasion today and that's why I got it.'
It was the 24th time the pair have faced each other, the last being the 2012 Men's Final when Federer defeated Murray to become champion.
Federer, who fired 11 aces in the first set and 20 over the full course of the match, will now play Djokovic in the Men's Final match on Sunday in a bid to secure his eighth title as tournament champion.
Judy Murray was among spectators, beaming in her son's direction and offering an encouraging point of the finger as he arrived on court. His wife, Kim, was also in attendance, stylish in a black and white dress.
As her husband's dream of victory slipped ever-further away, Mrs Murray wore a solemn expression beneath her designer sunglasses.
Federer led the second set with five games to Murray's four at around 5.30pm on Friday as the pair continued to battle for a place in the final
The Swiss 33-year-old is vying for his eighth Wimbledon title and to become the oldest ever champion at the tournament
Glimpses of the tennis player's notorious temper were seen at points when he rested and began talking and gesturing angrily
Federer was cheered on by his wife, Mirka, who has been present for all seven of his Wimbledon victories.
Speaking of his win, Federer commended his long-time rival for having played so well throughout the tournament.
'Andy's been playing very well for the season. There's so much expectation riding on a match like this you try to focus and just keep it up.
'So many times you feel the break will come and he'll get back in (the game).
'I'm unbelievably happy but I couldn't share it as the crowd went kind of silent.'
Earlier in the week Murray had told of his hope that he would have the support of the home crowd. Hundreds had flocked to Murray Mound to cheer him on while a sleuth of British celebrities were also in his corner.
Federer is now on track to become the oldest ever Wimbledon champion and possibly best tennis player of all time if he secures his eighth championship win over Djokovic on Sunday.
Hundreds flocked to Henman Hill to watch the Centre Court action on Friday as Djokovic took on Gasquet and Murray faced Federer
Fans endured the blazing afternoon sun on Henman Hill at Wimbledon on Friday afternoon ahead of the match which was expected to draw in a TV audience of 13million
After his own win over France's Richard Gasquet, the Serb said he would be ready to take on either Murray or Federer in the final later this weekend.
'I'm definitely living the dream. Being here in Wimbledon and playing on the best tennis court in the world, of course I try to take the best out of myself and I have a responsibility to play well and reach the final.
'If you look at the names of the legends (here), it is an elite group of players. Of course it is a great honour and a privilege to be out there but I have to keep on going.
'The final is the most watched tennis match in the world. Of course there will be a lot at stake but I'll be ready.'
Kim Murray was stylish in a black and white dress as she chatted to friends in the player's box ahead of the match on Friday afternoon
The stunning player's wife was in high spirits in the first set of the match but was quickly spotted looking more worrisome as it developed
Mrs Murray was later seen looking more worried for her husband as he entered the third set having lost the first two
Kim Murray talks with her husband's coach Amelie Mauresmo after the 28-year-old loses the first set in the men's semi-final match
Judy Murray was among those in the crowds at Centre Crowd, offering a cheery smile ahead of her son's hotly-anticipated arrival
Murray's mother appeared to be in a playful mood, pointing towards someone on the court ahead of the first serve on Friday afternoon
Later the tennis player's mother was visibly more tense as he lost the first set to Federer less than an hour after stepping onto the court
Kim and Andy became engaged following last year's tournament when Murray was defeated by Djokovic
Federer's wife Mirka was equally stylish in a pair of large black sunglasses and a black and white dress as she watched the match
Asked to predict his opponent in the final, he said: 'We will see, I cannot foresee the future. But I'll enjoy their match.'
Sienna Miller, Stella McCartney and Vogue editor Anna Wintour led the glamour in signature sunglasses and full hair and make-up while tennis legend Bjorn Borg was also sitting comfortably in the Royal Box.
The Duke of York was in also in attendance fresh from his appearance on the balcony at Buckingham Palace to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the beginning of the Battle of Britain.
Murray was in high spirits as he left a practice session earlier in the day, greeting fans as he made his way through the grounds of the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club.
Murray was down after the first set, losing 5-7 shortly before 5pm on Friday in front of a packed Centre Court at the All England Club
The 28-year-old was the second best tennis player in the world after reigning Wimbledon champion Novak Djokovic who has a place in the final
The World Number Two clung on in the second set with five deuces after losing the first 5 games to Federer's 7
Murray looked forlorn as he rested after losing the first set on Friday despite rumbling cheers of encouragement from the crowd
Federer and Murray have not played each other since July 2014 with their last Wimbledon match the 2012 final from which Federer triumphed
Earlier Murray was in high spirits as he left a practice session at Wimbledon ahead of his semi-final match against Roger Federer
The World Number Two put on a cheerful display as he was escorted through the grounds by stewards on the 11th day of the tournament
Federer was focused in a practice session earlier in the day. The 33-year-old has won Wimbledon seven times and is vying to become the oldest ever champion
During a practice session with his pregnant coach, Amelie Mauresmo, Murray appeared focused and relaxed ahead of his match
Murray previously told of his hope to have the crowd's support today as he took on Federer in what was the most eagerly awaited match of the tournament
Murray and Federer have met 23 times but have not played each other at Wimbledon since the 2012 Men's Final when Federer triumphed
Defending champion Novak Djokovic triumphed over France's Richard Gasquet this afternoon in straight sets 7-6, 6-4, 6-4
Speaking of his rival ahead of their showdown today, Murray said: 'It’s impressive that he’s managed to stay at the top of the game for so long, considering how long he’s been at the top and how many matches he’s played. He’s won over 1,000 matches and played over 1,200. That’s a lot of tennis.’
Bookies had placed Murray as this year's favourite to win the championship, with experts backing their predictions.
Veteran commentator John McEnroe said he believed Federer did not have the stamina to beat Murray, even though he admits the Swiss has shown championship-winning form over the past ten days.
Yesterday Boris Johnson revealed he was willing the tennis star to victory, saying: 'My thoughts and prayers are with Andy, they definitely are.
'Roger Federer is one of the great players of this age but Andy Murray, in his way, is better.'
Had Murray gone through to Sunday's final, he and his brother Jamie, who will compete in the doubles final, would have been the first brothers to have both reached the final stages in the Men's Singles and Men's Doubles at Wimbledon for 109 years.
Jamie did not seem so excited by the prospect on Friday, however. Asked by The Evening Standard whether he was looking forward to his brother's match, he said: 'I couldn't give a monkeys about Andy's match. I've got my own match to play.'
British players Laurie and Reggie Doherty were the last to achieve the feat in 1906. Laurie won the men's singles final and finished runner-up with Reggie in the men's doubles final.
Jamie will play the doubles final tomorrow with Australian partner John Peers tomorrow on Centre Court. His brother issued a rallying call to supporters ahead of today's match, with Federer also a firm fan favourite among the Wimbledon crowd.
Murray's semi-final against Federer was expected to draw in the largest TV audience of the year with 13million expected to tune in at home and in pubs across the country.
Online ticket reseller Viagogo said tickets for Sunday's men's singles final were being sold for up to £17,000, with prices soaring by 50% since Murray, Djokovic and Federer made it through to the semi-finals.
Anna Wintour offers a rare smile as she sits in an empty Royal Box following the match between Novak Djokovic and Richard Gasquet
Stars packed out the Royal Box on Centre Court with Prince Andrew, Bjorn Borg, Anna Wintour, Shirley Bassey, Sir Alex Ferguson and Thierry Henry among those in attendance
Thierry Henry was joined by his pregnant wife in the Royal Box and sat in front of singer Shirley Bassey. He was later seen greeting Sir Alex Ferguson (R) ahead of the start of play
Christian Horner and Geri Halliwell put on an amorous display in the crowd as they watched Djokovic beat Gasquet this afternoon
Patricia and Bjorn Borg keep a watchful eye on the match as they sit in the front row of the Royal Box during Djokovic's semi final
British designer Stella McCartney rests her head on the shoulder of Alasdhair Willis as they take in the day's matches on Centre Court
The Duke of York makes his way to the front of the Royal Box ahead of the match on Friday afternoon after appearing at Buckingham Palace
Actor Charles Dance was also present in the exclusive Royal Box to watch Djokovic play Gasquet before Murray and Federer's match
Vogue editor Anna Wintour wore her trademark black sunglasses while Chiwetel Ejiofore was dapper in a beige suit on Friday
Cressida Bonas put on an amorous display as she enjoyed the afternoon's tennis, smiling and kissing with her male companion in the stands
Actress Sienna Miller was typically stylish in a white jumpsuit which she wore with red lipstick and some black thick-rimmed sunglasses
Benedict Cumberbatch and Sophie Hunter were also among spectators in the Centre Court stands on Friday to watch the match, cheering on Murray as he lost the second set in the semi-final match
Sir Alex Ferguson waves from the Royal Box on Friday after greeting footballer Thierry Henry and other sporting legends on Friday
Thierry Henry and Sir Alex share a joke as Mr Henry's pregnant wife sits between them as they prepare for the Murray Federer semi-final match
Former BBC Wimbledon highlights host John Inverdale was among the crowd, looking forlorn after departing the show following a row over alleged sexism last year
A packed Henman Hill this afternoon as Murray and Federer battled for a place in the final against Djokovic on the 11th day of the tournament
The stunning player's wife was in high spirits in the first set of the match but was quickly spotted looking more worrisome as it developed
Actress Sienna Miller was typically stylish in a white jumpsuit which she wore with red lipstick and some black thick-rimmed sunglasses
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