Roger Federer azima ndoto za Waingereza

 He did not lose because he choked. He did not lose because he moaned. 

He did not surrender to injury, or mislay his focus under the incredible weight of history bearing down.

Andy Murray, the first Briton to contest a men’s singles final at Wimbledon since 1938, was beaten due to a factor entirely beyond his control. 

He was defeated by a piece of paper. It is an official document, this sheet, nondescript and formulaic and issued by a local registry office or the General Register Office of Scotland.

Yet it places the birth date of Andrew Barron Murray - the middle translates from Old English as ‘young warrior’ - smack dab at the heart of what most acknowledge as the pinnacle of achievement in his chosen sport.

 Federer is a master of his art

There is no misty-eyed golden era to remember in tennis. The golden years are now. 

It is Murray’s misfortune to have as contemporaries men who would have bestrode any other time like Colossus. 

Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic.

There have been great players before them, great contests, too. Has tennis ever been more glamorous than it was three decades ago? No, but it has never been as good as now. 

And along comes Murray, the greatest British player of the post-war years, and blocking his path is a superhuman triumvirate.

It does not matter if Nadal is knocked out early, Federer removes Djokovic, or vice versa.

As long as one of the three remain in a tournament, the challenge for Murray is mountainous.

So it proved on Sunday. He did not even lose because he was not good enough. He almost certainly is good enough. He just isn’t good enough now.

Murray has learned to be philosophical about his poor timing. He says competing with Federer, Nadal and Djokovic has made him a better player. Rather this than play in an era of weak competition. Yet how frustrating must it be, on days like this?

The 2012 final was regarded as Murray’s greatest chance of winning Wimbledon and, as he remarked drily after it had all ended in tears, in his way was a man whose victory restored him to the status of No 1 in the world and gave him his seventh Wimbledon men’s title. 

 Federer's family watch on as he is presented with the trophy for a seventh time

Andy Murray's battling defeat to Roger Federer should be a source of pride(Telegraph)

 David and Victoria Beckham put on a stylish show at Wimbledon today

 The fashion designer showed off a green and black dress of her own designer and was toting a handbag by her label too

 The pair made their way to theirs seats in the royal box

 The fashion designer was seen with one arm around her husband and the other on his arm as the men's final game began

The fashion designer showed off her chocolate brown manicure as she and David watched the start of the match

Despite being the middle of summer, Victoria wore black leather knee-high boots

 Kate Middleton and her sister Pippa looked effortlessly elegant as they made their way to their seats in the Royal Box at Wimbledon

Kate was see flashing her engagement ring as she cheered Murray on

 Pippa opted for a blue patterned dress, while Kate was classic in cream

The sisters were gracious but clearly a little upset to see Murray lose

 Kate and Pippa hopped into a range rover together after the match

Daily Mail