DERBYSHIRE tennis coach Tom Rushby is sure former doubles partner Andy Murray will bounce back from his Wimbledon semi-final heartache.

Murray went down 6-4, 4-6, 7-6 (9-7), 7-6 (7-5) to American Andy Roddick on Centre Court yesterday, missing the chance to set up a final showdown with Roger Federer.

But Rushby, who reached the Junior Wimbledon semi-finals with Murray back in 2003, firmly believes the British number one will come back stronger from this disappointment.

"Obviously, it is disappointing for Andy but I thought Roddick played really well," said Rushby, who coaches at Duffield Tennis Centre.

"He served unbelievably well and that is probably the best I've ever seen him play.

"Murray seemed a little bit defensive, like he was playing on a clay court.

"He usually goes for his shots a bit more but I'm sure he will learn from this and come back stronger.

"The good thing is that he seems to be going a round further every year, so maybe next year he will get to the final and win it the year after.

"People have got to remember that he is still only 22 and he has never been to this stage of the competition before.

"Roddick is very experienced and is playing really well at the moment.

"Every time Andy got up on Roddick's serve, Roddick sent down a massive serve and you can't really do much about that.

"I thought Murray played well and people shouldn't give him a hard time for losing."

Rushby, 23, who lives in Hilton, is confident that Murray will be a Wimbledon champion one day.

"I thought Andy had a real chance of beating Roddick and beating Federer in the final," he said.

"But I'm sure he will be there or thereabouts for plenty of years to come.

"He has probably got about eight or nine Wimbledons left in him and I think he will win it – and more than once. He is good enough.

"It is not like he has peaked yet. He can still get better.

"It wouldn't surprise me if he went on to win the US Open. Hard courts suit him and he made the final last year. Plus, there should be less pressure on him.

"I'm confident he will win either the US or Australian Open at some point – and I'm sure he will win Wimbledon one day."

Murray himself echoed Rushby's views.

"The way that I played this year it was very, very close to getting to the final," he said.

"If I give myself those sort of opportunities and keep playing well, and my consistency in the grand slams the last year or so has been much, much better – a final, a semi and a quarter – I'm going to give myself chances to do it.

"I believe I can win a grand slam, whether it's Wimbledon or US Open or Australia or whatever, I'm going to give myself chances.

"I'll come back next year and try to do better."

Roddick said: "In recent years, it's certainly up there (with my best matches) – playing a player of his rank, his calibre, in his atmosphere.

"He was certainly in form going into the match. I had to play my best tennis to win.

"You don't go back to a Wimbledon final by accident. I did work real hard and have been committed.

"I didn't know if I was going to get to play a final of Wimbledon again. I'm certainly thankful to have that opportunity."

Earlier in the day, number one seed Federer reached a seventh successive final with a straight-sets win over Tommy Haas.