Federer v Nadal: Matchtracker

21.25: We have come to the end of this matchtracker. We hope you enjoyed the match as much as Gavin and myself. Congratulations to Rafael Nadal.

21.24: Nadal becomes the first man since Bjorn Borg in 1980 to do the French Open/Wimbledon double.

21.23: It's a dream come through for the Pearl of Manacor to win this championship, well that's what he just told Sue Barker.

21.21: Federer pays tribute to his opponent and promises to come back next year. If you can meet with triumph and disaster/
And treat those two impostors just the same.

21.20 Federer has just been announced as the runner-up. How strange does that sound? No six-in-a-row for the Swiss master.

21.18: Shades off Pat Cash as Nadal climbs up to meet his family. He goes one further and walks across the roof of the commentary boxes to greet Crown Princess Letizia and Crown Prince Felipe in the royal box. If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue/Or walk with kings--nor lose the common touch.

21.17 9-7 Nadal That's it. Rafael Nadal is the 2008 Wimbledon (gentle) men's singles champion. A forehand from Federer crashes into the net and his five-year reign as Wimbledon champion is over.

21.16: Advantage Nadal.

21.15 Words cannot describe this, as Federer saves championship point with another backhand across court.

21.14 40-30. Match point Nadal.

21.12 30-15. It's getting dark, but Nadal can almost see the finish line.

21.11 New balls and Nadal produces his first serve and volley of the match.

21.08 8-7 Nadal But, finally, Nadal breaks Federer's resistance. Now he serves for the championship.

21.07: Federer does it again. Deuce. And again. And again.

21.06 An magnificent backhand gives Nadal two break points at 15-40.

21.04 7-7 Unbelievable! They should just call it a draw. Replay next Sunday at Páirc Uí Chaoimh.

21.02 A lucky break with the net cord brings Federer back into this game at 40-30.

20.58 7-6 Federer It is over seven hours since this matchtracker began and we are still here. Another terrific game is won by Federer but not without a fight from Nadal.

20.57: Nadal gets a reprieve when Federer puts a volley into the net with the whole court open. Deuce.

20.55 Federer comes back from 0-30 (again) to lead 40-30.

20.52 6-6 Both players have their three challenges restored. With no tie-breaks in the final set we could be here a while yet.

20.48 6-5 Federer This is incredible tennis. Federer shows why is he is the best in the world and thwarts Nadal again.

20.46: A forehand from Nadal and Federer can only put his half-volley into the net. Nadal goes two break points up but Federer replies with an ace. He saves both.

20.44 5-5 Nadal ignores the planes flying overhead and keeps his nerve.

20.43 A brilliant forehand from Federer brings him to within two points of a sixth Wimbledon title at 30-30.

20.42: Nadal comes out with with an ace on a second serve for 15-0.

20:41: 5-4 Federer For the first time, Nadal has to serve to stay in the match. No pressure then.

20:39 Federer misses an easy chance to keep Nadal in the game.

20.36: 4-4 Nadal wins the next three points to make it 4-4 in the fifth.

20.32: He makes up for that on the next point later to level it up at 30-30. He then pulls another stunning forehand out of nowhere for break point.

20.31: Federer miscues a backhand to put Nadal 30-15 in front.

20.30: 4-3 Federer Nadal barely got to use it as another ace from Federer seals the game to love.

20:29: New racket for Rafa.

20.28: 3-3 Nadal responds with a comfortable game on his serve, including another beauty of a forehand passing shot.

20.25: 3-2 Federer. Two aces give the world number the first game after the rain delay.

20.22: Real Madrid president Ramon Calderon is in the crowd. But where's Cristiano Ronaldo?

20.21: The players are going through a five-minute warm-up. One minute left.

20.17: The players are back on Centre Court. The forecast is clear for the next few hours, which means we are set for a conclusion to this great match.

20.11: The covers are off.

20.01: Thanks Gavin. Wimbledon officials expect this shower to last just 15 or 20 minutes, so we could be back in action again sometime around 8.40. There should be enough light to play until 9.30.

19.54: But rain has descended upon this outrageous game of tennis. It's getting late, so we don't know if there'll be any more action tonight. It has been a pleasure, a privilege and something else beginning with 'p' to prattle on throughout this classic final. I'm off but I'll leave you in the capable hands of the evergreen Glenn Mason.

19.53: An ace takes Fed to 40-30, but a poor volley means Nadal takes it to deuce.

19.52: Two challenges go the way of Nadal and it's 30-30.

19.51: Fed is serving and volleying - and it yields him the first two points of the game. 30-0.

19.49: 2-2. Two bad errors from Fed hand Rafa the advantage, and a strong serve takes the game.

19.47: Nadal misses badly on the opening point, but no time to draw conclusions as he hits a blinding winner the next. 15-15.

19.45: 2-1 Federer. Fed powers a forehand winner off a weak return and then Nadal finds the net with his next.

19.44: Advantage Fed, but Nadal outwits the world number one with a drop shot to take it back to deuce.

19.43: And ace takes Fed to 40-30, but only his second double fault takes it to deuce.

19.41: Weird business on centre court - Fed has a fresh air on a simple forehand drive. But he responds with an ace and a forehand winner. 30-15.

19.41: 1-1. Fed fires long and Nadal ties it up.

19.38: Nadal's first forehand is wide, but he comes back strong with deep, powerful shots to go 40-15 up.

19.36: 1-0 Federer. Fed serving at the start of the fifth. Nadal shows he's still in it to win it with an awesome crosscourt forehand and Fed tries to be cheeky with a drop shot, but it's ends up in the net. Fed takes to the net - his most successful tactic throughout the match - and wins out.

19.33: Holy moley folks, this is what sport is all about. You think it's all over, they were etching Nadal's name on the trophy, and back comes Fed. From two sets down, through two tie-breaks and facing several Championships points, the world number one is back in it. But Nadal will not surrender and the fifth set will be mighty. Come on!

19.31: 7-6 Federer. Rafa's return is long and Fed takes the set - it's two sets all. I can't take this.

19.30: Fed works Rafa around side to side and powers a forehand winner crosscourt. 9-8. Fed serves for set point.

19.29: Good God. Rafa charges the net, but Fed matches him with a breathtaking passing shot down the line. 8-8.

19.28: Words fail me. No they don't - Nadal pulls out the shot of his life - a pass down the line when all seemed lost in the point and it's 8-7. Championship point on his serve.

19.27: Fed does it again - an unreturnable serve when he needs it. 7-7.

19.26: Nadal serves. This is unbearably tense stuff. Fed's approach is just long and it's 7-6 and championship point to Fed.

19.25: Running out of superlatives here - but a sensational rally ends with Fed pushing his attempted winner just wide. 6-6 and they change again.

19.24: A big serve when Fed needs it and Nadal can't get it back. 6-5 Federer and set point.

19.24: A stunning crosscourt forehand winner and it's level at 5-5.

19.23: Fed piles the pressure on Nadal with deep shots and Nadal dumps a forehand in the net. 5-4 Nadal.

19.23: Unbelievably, he double faults and it's 5-3 Nadal.

19.22: Nadal is two points away and he has two service points.

19.21: Fed serves, but after a tense rally, he pushes his forehand into the tramlines and it's 5-2 Nadal.

19.20: Great forehand winner in the corner by Fed. 4-2 Nadal as they change ends.

19.20: Another first serve that doesn't come back. 4-1 Nadal and he's getting closer to the title.

19.19: An ace from the Spaniard. 3-1 Nadal.

19.19: Fed pushes his forehand long and loses both service points. 2-1 Nadal.

19.18: Nadal breaks right back by rushing the net. 1-1.

19.17: Nadal opens the serving and it's a simply amazing point. Fed's lob is backhand smashed by Nadal but Fed keeps his cool to finish in the corner. 1-0 Federer.

19.16: Another good serve and Fed holds - it's tie break time again. Can Fed keep it going or is Rafa about to take the title? Read on, keen tennis fans.

19.15: A tense rally ends when Rafa tries for a winner down the line, but just misses. Two good serves for Fed mean it's 40-15.

19.14: Fed serving to stay in the match again, and he's straight under the kosh at 0-15.

19.12: 6-5 Nadal. No let up from Rafa - he holds to 15 and the pressure is straight back on Fed.

19.10: Late in the day, out come the subtleties - a subline drop shot by Nadal steals a quick lead. 30-0.

19.09: 5-5. Fed holds from 0-30 down - he will not give in.

19.09: 40-30 as Nadal pushes a forehand long - a rarity.

19.08: And Fed pulverises a weak return down the line to tie it up at 30-30.

19.08: 0-30. A blistering backhand winner leaves Fed floundering at the net. But a powerful first serve takes it to 15-30. 

19.06: Pressure's on - Fed is serving to stay in the match. A drop shot by Rafa to outdo Fed's drop shot takes it to 0-15.

19.05: 5-4 Nadal. Rafa presses ahead and moves within a game of the championship.

19.04: Nowhere is safe. Fed pounds a forehand into the corner, but Rafa lashes a backhand crosscourt from an unbelievable angle to take it to 30-15.

19.01: 4-4. Fed throws two big forehands back at Nadal and holds - but it's getting harder.

19.00: Áll-change as it's Fed's serve that's under the most pressure now. 30-30.

18.57: 4-3 Nadal. Rafa is endlessly impressive. Even when he seems beaten, practically falling back into the corner, he can conjure up winners. Holds to love - not a sniff for Fed.

18.54: 3-3. But old faithful - Fed's crosscourt forehand - and a strong first serve push Fed over the line.

18.53: Fed's first serve finds the net too often and Rafa punishes him for it. Deuce.

18.49: 3-2 Nadal. Unstoppable is the word. Sledgehammer groundstrokes from the back of the court pound Fed into submission.

18.48: Nadal comes out firing in the next, but a missed drop shot means it's 15-15.

18.46: 2-2. As if to prove the point, Fed takes the next game in the time it took me to write the last bit.

18.43: 2-1 Nadal. Rafa takes hold of himself and serves out the game. Fed has raised his game since the break and looks like he can take it all the way. But Nadal has not faded and will take some stopping.

18.42: 30-30. Neither player is giving an inch and the standard, if it was possible, is getting even higher.

18.40: Two breathtaking points open the next game. Nadal somehow guides the ball into the exact corner of the court with Fed bearing down on the net and then Fed pulls out an amazing pass on the fly to tie it up. 15-15.

18.39: 1-1. Fed means business - he has the steely glare of a focused champion. So does Nadal though. Still, the crosscourt forehand is at full steam and he holds comfortably.

18.36: 1-0 Nadal. Powerful, consistent serving from Rafa takes the first game of the fourth set.

18.34: There's life in the old dog yet! A fourth set of tennis for the insatiable public - who are now very much behind Fed, if only because they want the match to continue.

18.32: 7-6 Federer. The sign of a champion. An ace when he needs it the most. 7-5 and Fed takes the third set.

18.31: An unreturnable serve from Rafa makes it 6-5 Federer.

18.31: Rafa bosses the point on his serve and finishes with an overhead smash. 6-4 Federer

18.30: Fed's serve is wide and too much for Nadal. 6-3 Federer. Three set points.

18.30: Fed's serve and an amazing rally as Fed is sent this way and that. He hits a forehand long. 5-3 Federer.

18.29: Rafa's serve again. Fed's return pushes Rafa back and the next is a classic crosscourt forehand winner. 5-2 Federer.

18.28: Back to Rafa's serve and Fed spanks a weak second serve down the line. 4-2 Federer as they change ends.

18.26: A winning forehand from Fed is called long, but he challenges the call and is proven right. He has to replay the point, but two quick aces and it's 3-2 Federer.

18.26: Nadal takes both service points after an ace. 2-1 Nadal.

18.25: Fed has a chance to go against serve, but misses with a backhand. 1-1

18.25: Fed opens with an ace. 1-0

18.24: 6-6. And an ace gives Rafa the game. It's tiebreak time - Fed must win to prolong the match.

18.23: Two more Fed misses mean it's 30-0.

18.19: 6-5 Federer. Fed is still alive - charging the net to claim an overhead and an ace takes the game.

18.17: 5-5. Nadal takes it with an excellent wide forehand. Third set will go down to the wire.

18.15: Whoops - double fault from Rafa and it's back to deuce. Nervy restart by both players.

18.14: But look here, two great returns and Fed has it back at 40-30.

18.12: Three unreturned serves and Nadal is right back into the swing. 40-0.

18.10: Time. We're back folks. Will this game kick off an amazing Fed comeback or will Nadal win a couple of games and take over as king of Wimbledon. 5-4 Federer, Nadal's serve.

18.08: Next year, there'll be a roof over centre court so this rain delay drivel from me will be a thing of the past.

18.04: They do get to warm up a bit and Fed's classic cardy gets some more air time to win over a few more fashion-unconscious consumers.

18.03: So here's the deal. Nadal leads two sets to love, having won both with a single break, 6-4 6-4. In the third, Fed leads 5-4, and Rafa has to serve now to stay in the third set. So it's a crucial game to kick things off again.

18.01: Hello - sunshine at SW19. The covers are off and it's time to get some tennis again. Get in.

17.58: See, it's happening again - this documentary on here praising the guy is rubbing off on me and I'm spreading the good word like some mindless puppet.

17.55: I'm not suggesting Federer is a font of effervesence or the chattiest dude in town, but he seems a decent guy. His ability to do what he does and not seem like he's making any effort at all is barely conceivable.

17.51: Talking head Pete Sampras casually posits that if he and Roger had met in their prime they might have produced 'some of the best tennis ever.' Sampras projects the same arrogance as other great sportsmen, and he has earned the right, but without any flavour of personality he sounds like a berk. Roger seems to be able to talk about completely destroying opponents with a smile and can come across as a decent cat.

17.48: Liars! More rain erupts and it's back to that documentary tripe again. This one seems to be about his positive impact on the community at large. Boo. We want tennis.

17.46: I really hope Federer pulls it together and makes a game of it. I am now officially one of the crowd who start to cheer the nearly defeated guy solely of a selfish desire to get more value for their money and to see more tennis.

17.44: Rumour has it that the play will resume on centre court by 6pm.

17.39: In Graceland they give you this audio tour affair, where a vaguely familiar disembodied voice fills your noodle with knowledge as you amble around the King's abode. So there's an unusually silent vibe, funereal one might say, as you stroll about. At the end of the tour, you go out in the back garden and there is Elvis' flower-laden tomb with candles all around it. So everyone's real quiet, listening to their audio tours, also being real reverential. I'm there with someone and the last thing on the tour tape is the voice signing off - I hope you've enjoyed your tour of Graceland, Í'm Lance LeGault' - and I walloped my companion on the arm and shouted 'Dude, that's Colonel Decker from the A-Team!' You know when you've headphones on, you speak way louder than you need to. I ruined a lot of people's tour that day.

17.35: This Federer documentary on BBC is certainly making me sway towards the belief that he still has some grand slams left in him. It's one of those relentlessly positive portrayals, where famous talking heads eulogise the subject ad nauseum. I went to Graceland once and when I went in I wasn't that pushed about the King either way, but after several hours of intense brainwashing through endless positive testimony, I emerged a fully fledged member of the Elvis fan club.

17.33: Of course this is all idle speculation because it's raining in SW19. The ideal scenario would see Fed emerge from the rain delay and turn the match on its head and prove everything below to be twaddle.

17.30: There's always that point where the dominant force in any sport reaches its zenith and then begins to fade. Cracks begin to appear in the seemingly impenetrable armour. That has clearly begun here in this Wimbledon final. That said, Fed did obliterate everyone on his way to the decider, so he clearly has more to offer, but perhaps it is time for Nadal to be the untouchable number one and Roger to drop down to the number two chomping at his heels.

17.26: Remember last year when Fed and Nadal played a match that was on a specially made court, half-clay and half-grass? That was weird. Nadal won that. It would appear that he has expanded his game beyond the confines of clay dominance. The question is whether Roger is now a spent force? Has he got more titles in him or will Rafa and rising stars like Djokovic overtake him?

17.22: In the Leinster hurling final, Kilkenny are absolutely schooling Wexford. No surprise there. And yet the idea of Federer not winning Wimbledon is a very real possibility. See what I did there?

17.18: A documentary about Roger's rise to power in tennis has been carted out to fill the time. Inappropriate given the fact that he's been thoroughly outplayed by Nadal at the moment. Will it reveal the traumatic childhood event that robbed Roger of all emotion?

17.15: This endless circling of the same issues is quite tedious. It's the trouble with this end of the tournament - there's nothing else to talk about but the one game. Sue Barker should stage an impromptu game of Question of Sport. With Crazy Horse. It hasn't been the same since he left.

17.12: So Becker and Henman are filling in the gaps at the BBC and Boris is eyeing Tim with a certain Teutonic superiority. 'Who are you anyway?' and 'what have you won?' are my best guesses at what's silently emanating from his wicked glare.

17.08: If for some reason you're trapped in this page like me, here's what else has happened in the world of sport today:
Cork have beaten Kerry in the Munster football final by five points, Lewis Hamilton claimed victory at a wet British GP and Ross Fisher is cruising to victory at the European Open.

17.04: So to summarise so far, Nadal has taken his chances, resisted pretty much everything Federer has thrown at him, and blasted some winners of his own. Roger, for some reason, cannot convert his (many) break chances and is making far, far more mistakes. It's the pressure that Nadal exerts - Fed knows that anything but a stone cold winner is going to come back at him with pace. And he's not coping with it at the moment.

17.00: No sign of Cliff on centre court. I must be getting on if I'm nostalgic for his particular style of crooning. To be fair, it would be infinitely preferrable to the prospect of Gwen Stefani - guest in the royal box - grabbing the mic. Hmmm.

16.58: The weatherpeople insist that the rain will be gone within half an hour. Which would be nice. But I am strongly suspicious that meteorology is not much more than an educated guess. Apologies Evelyn.

16.51: Heavy drag. Rain falls, the green plastic emerges and Fed and Nadal shuffle off the court. Play is suspended.

16.50: 5-4 Federer. Two essential serves and Fed takes the game.

16.50: 30-0 start to the next, but then Fed's first double fault and a long backhand bring it back to 30-30. 

16.48: 4-4. Nadal holds with relative ease for the first time in two sets.

16.45: That was unreal - 0-40 down and looking like he was finished, Fed steeled himself and, admittedly helped by Nadal's mistakes, pressed on to turn it around. It's not over yet.

16.44: 4-3 Federer. It's five points in a row to fight back as Fed clings on.

16.43: Now it's Rafa's turn to bottle it - three returns into the net and Fed is back to deuce.

16.41: A frustrated Fed makes three basic errors and Nadal has three chances to move into a winning position. 0-40.

16.40: 3-3. Nadal holds and while Fed is getting chances to break every Nadal service game, his inability to convert is seriously undermining any chance of a comeback.

16.38: This is ridiculous. Fed simply refuses to convert any of these break chances. And it's all down to him. These are straightforward mistakes at the worst possible time.

16.37: Break point again after a great forehand winner, but Fed can't convert a volley as Nadal keeps him at bay. However, another electric forehand winner gives Fed another chance.

16.36: Fed embarrassingly dumps a backhand into the net, again off second serve. Deuce.

16.35: Fed chokes on break point again - throwing an easy backhand wide off a weak second serve. 30-40.

16.34: Fed raises his game and Nadal does look less mobile than before. Two break points for Fed. 15-40.

16.32: This could be Rafa's day. At full stretch, looking beaten by a forehand to the corner, Nadal pulls out an incredible pass. 15-0.

16.30: 3-2 Federer. Very, very easy hold for Fed. Dark clouds hover over SW19 - that would be most unwelcome.

16.28: 2-2. Fed pushes his forehand wide and the chance is gone.

16.27: Nadal actually stops playing to challenge a call, meaning he'll lose the game if he's wrong. He is not and it's back to deuce. A strong serve gives him advantage.

16.26: Rafa's forehand does the damage this time to win back one.

16.24: Two whip-crack forehand winners and Fed has two break points.

16.23: A top class rally to start the game and Rafa's movement seems fine. A backhand slice down the line from Nadal is literally blown out into the tramlines by the wind. 15-15.

16.22: Nadal's out to serve without treatment.

16.20: 2-1 Federer. Nadal reaches for a forehand, but fades away and he looks like he may be hurt. He calls for the trainer at the changeover.

16.19: That's not good. After a full-pelt rally, Nadal slips and his knee buckles uner him. A brief pause and he continues. We'll see how he responds.

16.18: 1-1. Fed makes a fight of the game at 40-30, but another missed forehand and it's game Rafa.

16.16: Three simple mistakes from Fed and Nadal is making him look like Fed usually makes lesser players look. If you get me.

16.14: 1-0 Federer. A similar start to the third - Fed holds to love easily.

16.11: Fed is making mistakes, but it's Nadal who is winning the match. He is preposterously resilient. Everything's coming back at Fed, usually with interest and at the moment, the world number one is looking second best.

16.10: 6-4 Nadal. Two more mistakes from the baseline from Fed and Rafa takes a two set lead. Stating the obvious, it's a long way back from here.

16.09: After a great scrambling rally, Fed dumps another forehand in the net and it's back to deuce.

16.08: The wind gets the better of Rafa as the ball's flight path deviates on him and he doesn't react in time. Break point Fed.

16.06: The umpire calls Rafa on a time violation, serving at 30-30. He's clearly a Fed fan. But it doesn't stop Rafa - backhand slice from the corner creeps away from Fed and it's 40-30.

16.04: Rafa is taking charge - a Fed mistake and another simply unreturnable forehand winner gives him a 30-15 lead.

16.03: Fed really, really needs another break here. Good start as he controls the point from the net. 0-15

16.02: 5-4 Nadal. But an unreal forehand winner simply outmuscles Fed and Rafa will serve for a two set lead.

16.01: 0-40 and three break points for Rafa. The first one is saved with a confident charge at the net.

15.59: It's evened right up now, as Fed's rhythm on his serve seems to have shifted down from unearthly to excellent. And it's Fed who's making more mistakes from the baseline. 0-30.

15.57: 4-4. Fed fluffs a drive volley and another strong serve to the body sees Nadal hold.

15.55: It's break point Fed as Nadal's attempts to push his shots to the very edge of the court are a touch too powerful. But a strong serve brings it back to deuce.

15.53: But the point of the match gets Fed back into it. A stunning crosscourt 'winner'is tracked down by Rafa as is the seemingly unreturnable next shot - Rafa playing blindly behind him back into play. But he cannot finish his comeback, and volleys into the net. Nadal's abliity to chase down shots is terrifying. 30-30.

15.51: He's rattled him again. Two simple errors from Fed hand Nadal a 30-0 advantage.

15.49: 4-3 Federer. Well shut my mouth. Nadal stretches Fed at the net, forcing him into some errors and takes the break to re-open the set as a contest.

15.47: I have the power. Fed misses a tough half-volley and an easy forehand finish and it's break point Nadal.

15.45: 4-2 Federer. Nadal takes it after Fed can't handle a deep forehand. But it's still far tougher for Nadal to hold than it is for Fed. Let's see if I've cursed him again.

15.43: Whap! Some of these shots should have super-hero-style sound effects attached. Fed's cross-court winner ends a point in style, but the next one is pushed wide and it's 30-15. And an overhead from Rafa sees him to 40-15.

15.41: 4-1 Federer. But Fed's serve is now taking on Sampras-esque proportions. Two aces and it's game Federer in no time at all.

15.39: 3-1 Federer. I'm at it again - four wild misfires from Fed's racket gift an easy hold to Nadal.

15.36: Fed is holding comfortably whereas Nadal's serve is being taken to deuce almost every time now.

15.34: 3-0 Federer. The world number one is absolutely imperious on his serve. Points are lasting no more than three shots - until a savage crosscourt winner from the Spaniard bucks the trend. But it's back to normal the next point - unreturnable serve and it's a big lead.

15.33: 2-0 Federer. Rafa tries to respond by charging the net and seems to have the point won, but an unreal forehand pass under pressure gives Fed an early break in the second set.

15.32: But Fed's really pushing the net and Rafa can't pass him this time. Break point Fed.

15.31: For once Fed's touch at the net isn't up to scratch - Rafa runs it down and brings it back to 30-30.

15.29: Uh-oh. Rafa clutches his knee after failing to reach a Fed drop shot. And a punishing forehand down the line sees Fed take a 0-30 lead. He even lets a shout of joy out - that's 40 lashes later on.

15.28: 1-0 Fed. Right, second set. Fed's serve is really strong now - he holds to love again in the blink of an eye. Or at least the writing of a paragraph.

15.26: Fame spotting around the crowd. The best that they can come up with this time is disshevelled London mayor Boris Johnson. Paltry.

15.24: 6-4 Nadal. That miss seems to have rattled Fed as three successive mistakes gift the first set to Rafa after two chances to break back. Henman switches alleigance to Rafa on the BBC commentary - what a flake.

15.23: Commentator's curse - Fed slices a backhand into the net off a weak second serve on break point. And then he throws a backhand way long to hand Rafa another set point.

15.22: They're playing stunning, stunning tennis. No one else could even begin to live with this standard but this pair. Break point to Fed again.

15.21: Another rtrademark crosscourt forehand to the corner from Fed saves the point. Deuce again.

15.20: Fed pushes to the net again but this time his forehand volley creeps over the baseline to bring things back to deuce. And an ace from Rafa hands him another set point.

15.18: Fed shifts to shoot a stunning forehand crosscourt. Nadal reaches it and a net chord spits the ball over the net. But Fed is unperturbed and finishes off the point to save the set. Another well-timed net approach and winning volley hand Fed a break point.

15.17: An unstoppable forehand winner gives Rafa a 40-30 lead and set point.

15.16: A sweet volley pushes Fed in front 15-30. Can he break back when it counts?

15.15: Celeb spot! Gavin Rossdale from extinct drab rockers Bush and his infinitely more famous wife Gwen are sitting beside Fed's missus. Just so you know.

15.13: 5-4 Nadal. The early break was key for Nadal, because Fed's serve is cooking now - four serves and not one comes over the net.

15.12: 5-3 Nadal. A couple of Fed mistakes see Nadal move within a game of the first set.

15.10: Trick shots come as Nadal leads 40-0. Rafa tries a drop shot while Fed is at the net. Fed lobs him, but Rafa gets back in time to try out a between-the-legs number to no avail. 40-15.

15.08: New balls for Nadal's serve. But the wind is increasing - hopefully we won't have a repeat of Saturday's the Willams sisters 'wind tunnel' final.

15.06: 4-3 Nadal. There really is some ace tennis on display. Fed's deft touch at the net gives him game point, but some classic side-to-side action from Rafa pulls him back. But Fed holds after Rafa pushes a forehand long. Dan Maskill's key seventh game, but it's still advantage Rafa.

15.04: Both players are finding the corners from behind the baseline. Points are being won rather than lost and tennis is the winner, if you'll excuse the phrase. 30-15 Fed.

15.02: 4-2 Nadal. Fed tries to up the tempo and pushes to the net, but Rafa has the answer - a scorching passing shot. And another Fed mistake hands Nadal the game.

14.59: 3-2 Nadal. Fed brings out the big guns and holds serve to love in about a minute.

14.57: 3-1 Nadal. A strong second serve to the body secures that tight game for Nadal.

14.55: Misses a forehand long and it's back to deuce. Every point Nadal starts out dictating the pace with his awesome groundstrokes, but one shot from Fed can turn the tide - trouble is Nadal can chase almost anything down. Back to deuce again.

14.54: Break point to Fed straight away after coming back from 40-0 down.

14.52: A Nadal mistake and two exceptional forehands from Fed bring him back into the game. Nadal has served every single serve to Fed's backhand, but Fed is manouvering around to take it on his forehand if he can. Deuce.

14.50: Power and placement from Nadal's forehand leave Fed floundering. When Rafa hits one long, he's so surprised he challenges the call and is proven right. 40-0.

14.48: Nadal comes out shooting and sends Fed scurrying around the court with some clever tennis. Both men are on form straight out of the blocks, but Rafa is hitting some unreturnable winners and edging ahead.

14.47: 2-1 Nadal. A Fed mistake, again on the forehand, gifts an early break to the world number two.

14.46: First break point of the day to Rafa as Fed finds the net with a forehand.

14.44: Serve and volley from the old school gives Nadal no chance as Fed puts away a sweet volley. But Rafa responds with punishing shots from way behind the baseline to take the advantage. 15-30.

14.42: 1-1. Rafa double faults at 40-15, but Fed misses a forehand down the line and Nadal ties it up.

14.40: This is a mighty start by both players. Every shot has great length and smacks of quality, with pace and power. Fed charges the net and volleys a superb winner, but two unreturned Nadal serves move him in front. 30-15.

14.38: 1-0 Fed. A searing crosscourt backhand, a whipped forehand to the corner earns Fed two game points and an ace nets him the opening game.

14.36: Hot damn. A very impressive rally of at least 15 baseline groundstrokes promises much. Nadal powers a forehand winner into the corner to take the first point. 0-15.

14.35: Here we go. Fed to serve, towel slaves at the ready. Best of luck to all.

14.32: Looking at the career records, Fed really has dominated tennis - four time US Open winner, five Wimbledons, three Australians. But never a French, whereas Rafa has never lost a match on Parisian clay. Interestingly, Rafa leads Fed 11-6 in lifetime meetings. But if you take away meetings on clay, it's 5-2 to Fed. I'm getting confused - no more stats please.

14.30: Borg looks somewhat jittery in the royal box. Does he secretly hope that lightning strikes both players and his beloved records remain intact for all eternity?

14.28: Fed's cardigan is pretty hilarious. You'd want to be pretty confident in your ability to take to your local court sporting that number.

14.26: Fed wins the toss and will serve. The pair seem friendly and relaxed as they begin to warm-up. It's a solid tradition and a positive aspect of the sport - there would be a lot less rhubarb in rugby, soccer or any discipline if the competitors had a kickabout together beforehand. Can't we all just get along?

14.25: The coin toss at the net. I always go for heads just in case someone has a double-headed coin.

14.23: Both players strut onto an expectant centre court and take their seats. Who decides which seat they get? Fed claims the one nearest the door. What can we read into this? Is it a minor victory? Am I losing the run of myself?

14.21: Fed, meanwhile, is outrageously chilled. He could not be more relaxed if he was nibbling chocolate in his Alpine chalet. Fair dues.

14.20: The questionable practice of interviewing the players directly before they walk out on court continues unabated. Nadal seems peeved to be there, but he is gracious in complementing his opponent and responds to the traditional inquiry of 'how are you feeling?' with commendable patience.

14.18: Slow motion is great. You can put anything in slo-mo and it looks graceful and majestic. Even someone bouncing down a flight of stairs, with suitable orchestral score, could be a masterpiece of gravity-induced ballet.

14.15: Most of the experts seem to be picking Fed to take his sixth title, albeit with the usual caveat that Nadal has greatly improved his grass play. Of course the subtext here is the serious whomping Rafa handed Fed in Paris a few weeks ago. A similar result is highly unlikely, but Fed has to be favourite. Journalistic integrity prevents any prediction from this source. But I could definitely go for some Swiss roll about now.

14.13: If Becker opens his eyes any wider as he attempts to invest some last minute drama, his eyeballs are going to tumble onto the desk. That'd be hilarious.

14.11: The covers are coming off! God or Evelyn Cusack or whoever has tired of my rambling jive and has decided that it's time for tennis. Bring it.

14.09: Sound! Nadal is asked whether he'd prefer to win Wimbledon or score a hat-trick for Real Madrid in the Champions League final. He says he doesn't know! He is clearly torn up by the options of glory and footballing passion is clearly strong in this one. Brownie points for the Spaniard.

14.06: Imagine when Becker's kid grows up and his folks have to tell him how he came about. You can lie to him for a while, but even if you try to hide the truth, it's pretty much common knowledge the world over that he was conceived in a few seconds in a closet in a crowded London restaurant. Big uncle Internet will reveal the sordid truth to the nipper sooner rather than later. That would be a tough chat.

14.03: It was South African Kevin Curran. Few remember him now, sporting history tends to be harsh on the runners-up. Perhaps he should have got busy in some restaurant cupboards to maintain his notoriety.

14.00: Becker was the man for me when Wimbledon rolled around. A fresh-faced 17-year-old when he stormed into the final in 1985, no one knew much about him, but the crowd got behind the young German. I vividly remember manic fans in the crowd screaming 'C'mon Boreeeees!' Can you remember who he beat in the '85 final to win his first title? Answer in just a moment.

13.57: So two o'clock is rolling around, scheduled start for the final and not a peep out of the locker room. The covers are on. BBC are lurking outside with Wimbledon hero Boris Becker and perennial local failure Tim Henman.

13.53: Alas, I am chronologically unqualified to compare the rivalries, but when Borg and McEnroe were around, there was Connors, Lendl and a host of other great players in the mix. To be blunt, Fed and Nadal are playing a different game to everyone else these days. There are so far out on their own and playing such spectacular tennis that they really are setting a new standard. And long may it continue.

13.49: Fed probably represents Borg today, with his effortless grace or, to some, his somewhat robotic mannerisms and lack of emotion (resistance is futile), whereas Nadal, with his more expressive, physical style would be McEnroe. But he won't be throwing rackets around or screaming at the umpire, more's the pity.

13.45: As the BBC begin their (hopefully brief) filler, Borg and McEnroe discuss their rivalry and others that have graced Wimbledon's grass over the years. Which is the better rivalry? Who are the better players? Let us pause and reflect.

13.41: It's Ali v Frazier, Real v Barca, Great Rival A v Great Rival B on centre court at SW19. Both players are bidding to make tennis history today - Federer out to claim his sixth successive Wimbledon title, with Nadal hoping to be the first player to win the French and Wimbledon titles in the same year since a certain tennis legend from Sweden in 1980.

The man who owns both those records is the great Bjorn Borg, who will be at courtside - but who will he be cheering for? No one's cheering for anyone yet as the weather in London town is less than stellar - the 2pm start may be delayed.

13.40: The ultimate tennis showdown as the two best tennis players in the world - ever? - face off in the Wimbledon men's singles final.

Commentary by Gavin Keane.