"I'm getting closer," an emotional Andy Murray joked after his loss to Roger Federer in the Wimbledon final.
Moments earlier, with the crowd at Centre Court roaring "AN-DY," Federer wrapped up his record-tying seventh Wimbledon singles title by winning his final service game of the match. The raucous, partisan crowd at the All England Club -- which included Kate and Pippa Middelton -- had hoped to see Murray become the first British man to win the singles title at Wimbledon since Fred Perry in 1936.
Unfortunately for those fans, the 25-year-old from Glasgow was overwhelmed by Federer, who grabbed hold of the match during a taut second set and went on to win 4-6, 7-5, 6-3, 6-4. Unable to celebrate an iconic win by Murray, the crowd was stuck witnessing Federer make history of his own.
In the moments after the match, Murray did manage to get the spotlight back from his competitor by delivering a tearful speech.
WATCH VIDEO ABOVE
"I'm going to try this and it's not going to be easy," Murray said before going on to congratulate Federer and thank his fans for their support. Composed enough to joke about Federer's age but still admitting he was unable to look at this family in the stands for it would set him crying again, Murray delivered a poignant end to the tournament. Although he didn't give fans the result they had hoped for, it seemed that many were as impressed by his sportsmanship and emotion as they would have been by a victory.