Boris Becker put Andy Murray's Wimbledon exit down to a mental failing after he lost 5-7 6-2 6-2 6-4 to Rafael Nadal in the semi-finals yesterday.

Having won the opening set, the game turned suddenly in the second set when, at 15-30, Murray missed a simple forehand to win the point.

The Scot did not recover until Nadal already had the head of steam that would carry him through.

"At this stage of the tournament, the semi-final, when Murray is one match away from a place where he's never been, it's about the mind," said Becker.

"It's about how you're going to cope with difficult situations. That second point really changed the whole momentum.

"You're allowed to lose a set, but you have to come back. He didn't allow himself to come back until the middle of the fourth set and by then Nadal was already up and racing."

Former British number one Tim Henman expressed surprise that it ran away from Murray so quickly.

"It's just amazing that one point, one shot, can have such a bearing on the match," he said.

"The first set for Andy was perfect tennis; he was serving very consistently, he was aggressive from the baseline, he was in control and playing the better tennis.

"On that point, Nadal is facing the wrong way and if he hits it anywhere on that side of the court it would have been a winner. He's just over-hit it by a couple of inches.

"It's very difficult to explain. He was playing so well and there was everything to indicate he could be the one to take Nadal down.

"He had that bit of momentum and it was a case of whether he could keep it going.

"But Nadal only needs one opportunity like that and 15, 20 minutes later it's 2-0 in the third set, one set all and Nadal's a break up.

"It did turn around and if anything Nadal's level got better.

"Murray was struggling with his leg, and it looked like at times he was holding his leg and not able to move as well as he would have liked.

"But all credit to Nadal. His level just keeps getting better and better."