Live Commentary: Roger Federer vs. Andy Murray - as it happened

Hello, and welcome to Sports Mole's live coverage of the Wimbledon semi-final between Roger Federer and Andy Murray.

Now that we've had the starter, it's now time for the main course as Roger Federer and Andy Murray battle it out to join Novak Djokovic in the Wimbledon final. Excited? Thought so. We are too!

Everything that needs to be said in the build-up to this match has already been said, but let's remind you of the tale of the tape. Federer is a seven-time champion at SW19, a former world number one and last year's finalist. Murray is the world number three and 2013 champion who is coming into this tournament on the back of his fourth win at Queen's.

Right on schedule, the two players make their way onto Centre Court to a warm reception from the crowd. Despite Murray having the home support, Federer will have a share of the following too. There should be quite the atmosphere. Andy Murray won the toss, but we couldn't quite see what he has decided to do. I guess we'll have to wait and see.

HEAD TO HEAD! Federer holds the slight advantage over their 23 previous meetings, winning 12 times compared to 11 for Murray. The Swiss also holds a three-match winning streak over Murray and a 4-1 record in Grand Slams. Murray will take confidence from his London 2012 victory, but Federer allowed the Scot just one game on his last visit to London.

Both players are ready to start. It will be Federer to serve first.

Federer races into a 30-0 advantage, but a sharp Murray return and immaculate lob haul him back to 30-30. Murray then connects with a crushing backhand winner down the line to earn break point but it's saved with a good serve out wide. The Swiss's first ace earns him game point before another big first serve seals the hold. He made eight first serves in that game. What a start.

Murray begins his opening service game with two solid first serves that aren't returned by Federer, but a double fault breaks the run of consecutive first serves in the match. A first ace for Murray earns two game points before another huge delivery catches the line to secure the hold.

Federer's serve looks sublime, but he's picked off by Murray who lands a backhand passing shot for 30-15. That becomes 30-30 when Federer misses with a backhand volley but two big serves, the second of which is an ace, confirms the hold.

A cross-court forehand winner from Federer levels the score at 15-15 but Murray reopens a slender lead with a big first serve. Two forehand errors from Federer give Murray the game. This has been a high-quality start though.

The serve-and-volley is being used frequently by Federer and it's enabling him to take control behind his own serve. Three game points are earned before an ace down the middle seal the love hold.

Murray creates an opening on the first point but misses with a forehand, although he's given the point back when Federer sprays a forehand wide of the line. A backhand is sent to the same place by the Swiss, but he responds with some of the best net-play you are ever likely to see, finally putting away a backhand volley low down at the net. It's 30-30, but Federer misses a return on a second serve. The game is sealed with an ace out wide.

Another ace takes Federer to 30-0, who earns three game points when Murray tamely nets from the baseline. The 2013 champion remains in the game with a routine forehand up the line, but a second ace of the game sees Federer hold comfortably.

A heavily-sliced backhand from Federer forces the mistake out of his opponent, but Murray gets a tad fortunate with a net cord on a cross-court backhand. A crushing forehand winner off the back foot helps Murray to 30-15, before he does the same off his backhand wing. He confirms the hold when Federer frames a backhand and we are getting into the tense stages of this first set.

Federer starts the game with a second-serve ace, before following that up with one off his first delivery. A smash earns three game points, but Murray remains in the game with a lob. Federer's serving has been, quite frankly, unreal and another ace secures the game.

Murray starts well, connecting with a cross-court backhand before a big first serve earns 30-0. Another solid first delivery catches the line for three game points before he converts the love hold in the same fashion.

Federer takes his ace count into double figures, but Murray replies with a stunning forehand winner after the point of the match so far. Federer successfully overturns a out-call on a first serve to regain the lead before Murray fires a forehand long. The Scot stays in the game with a forehand into the corner that Federer can't handle, but the Swiss takes the game when Murray sends a return wide.

SET! Murray looks on his way to 30-0 but Federer pulls off a tremendous backhand winner down the line for 15-15. Murray then nets tamely into the net and for the first time in the match, he is in trouble on his serve. A second serve is given the treatment by Federer and the Swiss has two set points. Murray remains in the game and set with a forehand passing shot, but it's Federer's set after a backhand ties Murray up at the net.

That was a remarkable set of tennis from Federer. He made 85% of his first serves, as well as serving 11 aces. Murray didn't do a whole lot wrong.

More unstoppable serving takes Federer to 30-0 before he converts a volley into the open court for three game points. A love hold is completed when Murray can't return a first serve.

A third ace of the match gets Murray back to 15-15, but a net cord favours Federer and he takes advantage to put away a forehand winner for 15-30. Murray replies with a powerful backhand, before drilling another ace down the middle. Murray holds with a forehand into the corner and he needed that.

Better from Murray, who finds his mark with a forehand return, but Federer replies with a winner from inside the court. An outswinging first serve forces Murray to go long, but a baseline error from the Swiss gives Murray hope. It's not for long though as Federer converts a backhand volley before Murray finds the net with a forehand.

After the opening two points are shared, Federer just misses out with a return, but Murray fires poorly into the net to give him a look at 30-30. Federer is all over a second serve to create the opening for the break of serve, but the second seed misses out with a backhand. That was makable. Murray comes through with two big first serves and we remain on serve.

A rare double fault from Federer sees him fall 0-15 behind, but he remains composed to put away a high smash. A forehand error concedes 15-30, but he survives when Murray just misses with a passing shot. We are at 30-30, which becomes game point to Federer when Murray nets a return. Federer takes the game when he goes marginally long with a backhand, and it's those small margins that see the Swiss hold the lead in the set and match.

A tense opening point ends with Federer slicing the ball into the net before the Swiss sends a forehand long of the baseline. A love hold is completed with an ace and forehand error from Federer. We've only been playing for just over an hour.

Super start from Federer, who sends down a 13th ace for 40-0, but Murray registers a forehand winner and backhand return winner in response. However, the Swiss ends the game with a big first serve out wide that is floated into the net by Murray.

After the opening two points are shared, Murray fires a wild forehand over the baseline, but he gets to 30-30 when Federer dumps a forehand into the net. A big first serve and an ace down the middle get him out of trouble on this occasion.

Federer registers another ace to take the opening point before Federer goes long with a backhand for 15-15. A 15th ace moves Federer back ahead, and he steamrollers through the rest of the game to force Murray to serve to try to remain in this second set.

Wow. After moving 0-15 ahead, Federer makes a seemingly impossible forehand to move two points away from the second set. Murray then nets a forehand and this is all going wrong now. A second-serve ace saves the first one, and Federer nets on the second. The third is saved with a huge first serve down the middle and we are at deuce, before Murray paints the line with a superb forehand winner down the line. Federer saves game point with several well-struck forehands and the Swiss gets a fourth chance to seal the set when Murray nets. It's Federer's turn to net and Murray saves a fourth set point, but Federer gets a fifth opening after a Murray backhand hits the net. He survives, somehow, with a volley into the open court after a 21-shot rally, and earns a second game point with a serve out wide. It's not taken, though, as Federer records a winner off the second serve, and Murray misses another game point when netting from the baseline. Incredible game, and there's more to come as Murray chases down a drop shot to pass Federer at the net. This is insane. It's a fourth game point, but Federer saves it after catching the line with a forehand. A fifth game point is brought up with a backhand winner down the line and Murray finally holds with an ace out wide. WHAT. A. GAME.

Federer begins his service game with a forehand winner, before Murray just fires wide with a forehand on the run. A tame return from Murray gifts his opponent three game points, and a forehand winner seals the love hold. Time for Murray to serve again...

SET! This is where Federer struck in the first set, and he's on his way again with a emphatic forehand into the corner. Murray finds great length to get back on level terms, but so does Federer, who reaches 15-30 with a backhand winner. A huge forehand from Murray makes it 30-30, but he sends a routine backhand into the net and Federer has set point. It's taken with a volley into the corner and despite doing very little wrong, Murray is two sets behind.

Federer opens up the third with an ace, before a drive volley takes him to 30-0. Murray remains in the game at 40-15 but a return is sent long and the Swiss sweeps into an early lead.

Murray chases down a drop shot to reach 30-0 before a big first serve takes him to three game points. An ace registering 127mph secures the love hold.

A backhand return from Murray sets up the easy conversion for 15-15 but Federer replies with his 17th ace. Murray then floats a return long, before Murray remains in the game with a forehand winner. A drilled backhand gets the Scot to deuce, but again, Federer comes up with an ace when he needs it before whipping a forehand winner into the corner. So far, this is one of the great serving performances.

An ace and big first serve help Murray reach three game points, but Federer stays alive in the game with a thumping forehand winner. Murray holds firm to take the game when a first serve isn't returned.

Murray just isn't getting a look in the majority of Federer's service games. The Swiss races to 40-0 with a volley and forehand winner before the game is sealed with a ace.

Federer ghosts into the net to get to 15-15, but Murray does the same to regain the initiative. A forehand put-away earns two game points before Federer sends a return long.

Yet another forehand winner from Federer helps him reach 30-0, before a backhand volley is far too good for Murray on the run. A love hold is sealed when Murray goes into the tramlines with a return.

Murray eases into a 30-0 advantage, but a sharp return from Federer halves the deficit. A flat ace out wide brings up two game points for the 2013 winner, but Federer remains in the game with a routine forehand into the corner. The Swiss controls the next exchange, but Murray ends a 21-shot rally with a strong forehand.

A smash and ace take Federer to 30-0, but Murray executes the perfect lob to halve the deficit. A serve-and-volley is enough for the second seed to reach two game points before a return is sent into the net.

MATCH! Murray begins a must-win game with a backhand into the net after Federer jumps all over a return, before the Swiss produces a bit of magic - well, a lot of magic - to flick a backhand winner cross-court. It's simply unreal. It's 0-30, but Murray halves the deficit with an ace out wide, his 12th of the match. A backhand winner from Murray helps him to 30-30, but Federer has match point after another superb return. Can Murray save it? No, he can't. He goes wide with a forehand to give Federer a place in his 10th final.

What can you say about that? Federer was simply faultless, and even though Murray was close to his best game, he couldn't touch the Swiss. The final against Djokovic should be some occasion.

That will be all for Sports Mole's coverage of this match. We hope to see you for the two finals that take place over the weekend. Goodbye for now.