World number one Rafael Nadal beat home favourite Andy Murray in straight-sets to set up a final date with Tomas Berdych.

The 23-year-old Murray was attempting to be first British man to reach a Wimbledon final since Henry ‘Bunny’ Austin in 1938 but the Spaniard was simply too strong, winning 6-4 7-6 (8/6) 6-4 on Centre Court.

Murray one trailed seven-three in their head-to-head meetings going into the clash but he had won their last two matches at Grand Slams, most recently in the quarter-finals of the Australian Open in January.

There was a real sense of anticipation among a packed Centre Court, including David Beckham, and a huge cheer erupted when the British number one won the first point of the match.

It was a tight as had been predicted, with neither player willing to give an inch. The fourth seed’s serve was holding up well while Nadal looked fit and in something approaching top form.

The crucial moment of the opening set came in the ninth game, and it was Murray who cracked first.

The Scot had served two aces down the middle and chose to go there again at 30-30 but this time Nadal read it and, having put Murray in trouble with the return, powered away a winner. He then took the break point when his opponent hit a forehand just wide.

Nadal then took a 40-0 lead serving for the set at 5-4 and, although Murray retrieved two points, the world number one clinched it thanks to another error from his opponent’s racquet.

Murray pushed hard for a break at the start of the second set but it just would not come. He got to deuce for the first time in the fourth game and the sixth game but could not engineer a break point.

The world number four was playing an intelligent match, engaging Nadal in a chess-like battle of minds, but too often what should have been the killer shot instead produced an error.

The crowd were willing their man on but he had reason to curse one spectator when a chance did finally arrive at 15-40 in the eighth game.

A mobile phone ring was followed by a netted return on the first break point, while on the second his length dropped too short and Nadal made him pay in the manner to which his rivals have become so accustomed.

A second-set tie-break had been crucial in Murray’s quarter-final win over Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, the Scot edging it to level the match, and that was his task again, for a two-set deficit would surely be too much.

A return winner gave Murray the first mini-break but that was quickly cancelled out by a netted forehand. Successive aces took the 23-year-old 5-4 ahead and he was gifted a set point on his own serve as Nadal double-faulted.

The Spaniard made up for that uncharacteristic error, though, defying a deafening roar from the crowd by seizing on a second serve and then winning the point with a superb volley.

And luck was on his side, too, a net cord beating Murray to give Nadal a set point of his own. And this time it was decisive, as the fourth seed scrambled in vein to retrieve a forehand, giving the top seed the game 8-6 and moving him closer to the final.

If the crowd’s belief that Murray could win the match was wavering, it was vital the man himself did not entertain such thoughts, and he proved his resolve in the best possible fashion by breaking Nadal to love in the opening game of the third set.

It almost seemed too easy after the travails of the second set but for once he did not give Nadal any free points and his big shots found their mark.

Murray initially held his advantage comfortably but he knew at some point the pressure would come from Nadal, and come it did in the eighth game.

The fourth seed withstood one break point thanks to a big serve but he missed his chance to take the game when he volleyed wide, and a double fault and netted forehand ensured he paid for it dearly.

Nadal sensed blood and sure enough a match point arrived in Murray’s next service game, the belief finally seeming to have drained out of the home hope.

And one was all he needed as Murray fired a drive volley long, giving Nadal a 6-4 7-6 (8/6) 6-4 victory.

The contrasting emotions were there for all to see, the Spaniard slumping to the turf while for Murray the tears were of a very different nature, utter dejection at seeing another chance of a Grand Slam title slip away.

He will now face Berdych in Sunday’s final after the big-serving Czech defeated Novak Djokovic in straight sets in the day’s first semi-final.