Then, second up on centre court was the main event, and hopes were high given how positively Murray started, taking the first set with some aggressive play. Then, the pundits tell us that the whole match hinged on a single point in the fourth game of the second set.
Murray was leading 2-1, and Nadal was 15-30 down on his serve. Murray had the chance to put away a relatively easy winner, and fired the ball three inches beyond the baseline. Rather than two break points for Murray, it was 30 all, and Nadal went on to win the game. Not only did he win that one, he went on a run, winning something like 11 out of the next 13 games to zoom into a two sets to one lead, and be a break up in the fourth.
There was a flicker of hope in the middle of the fourth as Murray had a few points to break back, but he couldn't convert them, and then that was pretty much that.
Being the diplomat that he always is, in his post match interview, Nadal explained how he felt sorry for Murray and how the Scot has the game to win a Grand Slam sooner or later.
I can't help but wonder if when asked what Murray needs to do to win a Grand Slam, Nadal was really thinking: "Well, he needs for me not to be playing for a start!"
Oh well - semi-finals again, and next year 75 will become 76.