Andy Roddick is readying himself to spoil ‘Murraymania’, a British phenomena that strikes whenever Andy Murray reaches the latter stages of a Grand Slam championship.  In years gone by it was ‘Henmania’, in reference to four-time Wimbledon semi-finalist Tim Henman.

“We might be able to count the people for me on this hand,” admitted Roddick, who will prove Murray’s toughest test yet in the semi-finals of The Championships on Friday. 

“I think the crowd’s going be electric.  I think it’s going to be a great atmosphere, and one that I can certainly appreciate, even if it’s not for me.  I’m just going to pretend when they say, ‘Come on, Andy!’ that they mean me.”

At The Championships this year Roddick has confessed he has yet to fire on all cylinders, but against 2002 titlist Lleyton Hewitt in the quarter-finals the Texan fired into life –  just in time for one of the most significant matches of his career.

Murray leads 6-2 overall, with three successive wins in recent times.  Three years ago, the Scot also won their only grass-court meeting 7-6(4), 6-4, 6-4 in the Wimbledon third round. 

Roddick, who has hit 139 aces and won 95 of 108 service games at The Championships, is expected to play a defensive game against Murray – wary of a repeat of the Qatar ExxonMobil Open final in January.

Roddick lost to Murray 6-4, 6-2 in Doha, at the start of the 2009 ATP World Tour season.  According to coach Larry Stefanki, his pupil “lost badly.  He adopted very aggressive tactics and that did not work at all. Murray is a counter-puncher who can turn defence into attack but he is almost better when playing against pace.”

Fitter, stronger and more versatile on the court than ever before, the 2003 US Open champion goes into Friday’s semi-final knowing what he is up against if he wants to make a third appearance in the Wimbledon final.

“[Murray] doesn’t really have a lot of weaknesses, or any for that matter,” said Roddick.  “He’s improved his serve a lot. He returns well. I know how hard this game is, so anybody who is near the top of it certainly has my respect.”

Murray has impressed many experts throughout the fortnight with his all-round game and never-say-die attitude.  Should the 22-year-old Scot become the first British man to win at The Championships since Fred Perry in 1936, the accomplishment would rank with Roger Bannister's sub-four-minute mile in 1954 and England's World Cup title in 1966 - among sporting feats in the United Kingdom.

By contrast Roddick has an opportunity to reach his fifth Grand Slam championship final (1-3 record).  Not bad for a player who once joked he was “the best bad tennis player of all time”.