ANDY MURRAY today stands on the brink of making history.

By Stewart Fisher at Wimbledon

ANDY MURRAY today stands on the brink of making history.

Not since Bunny Austin, all the way back in 1938, has a British player made it into the Wimbledon men's singles final - and no Scot has ever contested the last stage of this grand event at SW19.

Murray's ability to negotiate a route past American Andy Roddick will hinge on his ability to handle his opponent's huge 140mph service in their Centre Court semi-final today.

Murray's return of serve was superb in his destruction of Juan-Carlos Ferrero in the last round, and the man who moulded Murray as a youth player, Glaswegian coach Leon Smith, believes he has enough ability to blunt Roddick's biggest weapon.

Two-time beaten finalist Roddick served an amazing 43 aces in his five-set quarter-final victory over Lleyton Hewitt on Wednesday but Smith believes that will not faze Murray.

He said: "Roddick has been one of the best servers ever. But Andy is way more effective on returns and I think that could be the difference.

"Andy will have to be patient because Roddick is going to have some games where he is going to serve some unreturnables, but Andy will be the more likely to break serve."

Smith, who guided and shaped Murray between the ages of 11 and 17, also believes the Scot's own delivery will pose his opponent huge problems.

"Obviously both of them serve well," Smith added.

"But I think Andy's serve is a part of his game that he has got a lot more aggressive on. His preference was to be very consistent and very solid. What he has done very well is keep that base game and introduce a more aggressive style.

"Where he used to use his serve to start the point he is now using it to finish the point.

"Roddick is playing well and he is obviously a threat on this surface, but Andy's level has been consistent throughout the Championships.

"The way he played against Ferrero in the quarter-finals was exactly what he needed as he played well in all areas.

"Andy has always had a real burning will to win.

"Since the very beginning he just didn't want to lose and, in a Wimbledon semi-final where mental toughness is a big part, that single-mindedness is a huge plus.

"He has beaten Roddick already at Wimbledon in 2006 and has a 6-2 winning head-to-head over him and I think at some stage that is going to matter.

"From what Andy has done this week and looking at the form of both of them I think Andy will win."