Tonight:
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Andy Murray has vowed to lift the gloom created by England's footballing failure at the World Cup by defeating world No1 Rafael Nadal in today's
Wimbledon semi-final.
Murray is now Britain's best hope of providing the first sporting triumph of the summer but he faces a stern test against the 2008 champion, who holds a 7-3 career advantage over the Scot.
The 23-year-old said: “I love sport, not just tennis. I love watching formula one, boxing, football. That's my life. When I'm not playing tennis, I'm either playing other sports or watching other sports.
“To be part of it is great and if I could do my bit to make it as positive as possible after the World Cup, that would be great. But I've got a tough match.”
The world No4 insists that the chance to win a first Grand Slam title is the only priority and he would even forego the £1million prize for the winner if it meant he could become Britain's first men's champion since Fred Perry in 1936.
“If you ask all the people who have won Wimbledon, when they are serving for the match, it's about the history and the prestige of winning Wimbledon, not the amount of money you could win. It's obviously great but it's just so far from being the most important thing when you're out there.
“The prize money is great but I'm sure if you ask Roger Federer, you can keep your six Wimbledon titles but you have to give your prize money back', I'm sure he would sign up for that every day of the week.
“My goal coming into the tournament was to try to win it and I'm obviously a lot closer than I was 10 days ago.
“But I'm going to have to play the best tennis of my life to win the event now. I'm two matches away, six sets away, and that's what I've got to look to do.”
Spaniard Nadal's uncle and coach, Toni Nadal, has dismissed fears of his player's on-going knee problems and said: “His problem is not the knees, it is Murray.
“Murray is ready to win a Grand Slam. He is one of the best players and the best players win tournaments like Wimbledon. He is a talented player, one of the most talented on the ATP Tour and physically well prepared.
“He has a good serve, a good forehand, a good backhand and he can play in different ways. It will be a difficult match for Rafa.”
