Conrgratulations to Rafael Nadal, very much the deserved winner. He heads to New York in August in an effort to complete the grand slam set. Tomas Berdych is a talented player and can improve to compete at the top table. But today he was outmatched by a true champion. That's it from us, bye bye tennis, back to the football.
Long rally to finish - Berdych fights hard, charges the net, but Rafa pulls out a typical crosscourt winner and drops to the grass the Wimbledon champion for the second time.
Game, set and match Rafael Nadal 6-3 7-5 6-4
3-6 5-7 4-5 Berdych Berdych gets himself in a muddle, back-pedalling awkwardly and leaving the court open for Rafa to finish. His next forehand is miles long and it's Championship point for Rafa Advan Nadal
3-6 5-7 4-5 Berdych Rafa sends a second serve return long 40-30 Berdych
3-6 5-7 4-5 Berdych Big first serve down the middle is too hot for Rafa 30-30
3-6 5-7 4-5 Berdych Very brave dropshot by Berdych gets him back into it 15-30 Berdych
3-6 5-7 4-5 Berdych Berdych races to get a short forehand and Nadal whips it past him down the line. Two points away. 0-30 Berdych
3-6 5-7 4-5 Berdych Two punishing forehands stretch Berdych too far. 0-15 Berdych
6-3 7-5 5-4 Nadal The next serve comes back long and now Berdych must serve to stay in the match. Each of the last two sets, Berdych has crumbled all of a sudden at the business end - he needs to steel up now or it's game over.
6-3 7-5 4-4 Nadal Boom - crosscour forehand winner leaves Berdych rooted to the spot 40-0 Nadal
6-3 7-5 4-4 Nadal Nadal switches gears and slices Berdych out of the point with precision and guile 30-0
6-3 7-5 4-4 Nadal Berdych tries to dig out a Nadal-ish crosscourt pass, but it's just long 15-0 Nadal
3-6 5-7 4-4 Berdych His next serve comes back long and Berdych holds.
3-6 5-7 3-4 Berdych Mistake by Berdych - he charges the net and Rafa throws up a looping crosscourt forehand which Berdych leaves - it drops in 40-30
3-6 5-7 3-4 Berdych Ace out wide and a rocket straight to the body moves Berdych to 40-15
3-6 5-7 3-4 Berdych Nadal slices into the net the first point, but he powers a forehand winner into the corner the next 15-15 Berdych
6-3 7-5 4-3 Nadal Berdych can't get the next one back into play. Next rally, Nadal scuttles like a turbo-charged crab to get into position to unleash a wicked crosscourt forehand winner. His next return is also long and that's game.
6-3 7-5 3-3 Nadal Berdych charges the net and Nadal can't find the pass - this is the most effective tactic that the Czech has employed. But his next return is into the net 15-15 Nadal
3-6 5-7 3-3 Berdych Rafa's return is long and that was an extremely easy hold for Berdych
3-6 5-7 2-3 Berdych Lovely delicate volley finish from Berdych evades the onrushing Nadal and two big old aces move him to 40-0
6-3 7-5 3-2 Nadal Two more rockets from the forehand side and Nadal reclaims the advantage in the third set.
6-3 7-5 2-2 Nadal First serve comes back long and Rafa bosses the next point from the baseline. 30-0 Nadal
3-6 5-7 2-2 Berdych Strong forehand winner into the corner ties it up in the third
3-6 5-7 1-2 Berdych Nadal sends one long next and then a wicked kick befuddles the Spaniard - 40-15 Berdych
3-6 5-7 1-2 Berdych Nadal pushes his return long, but Berdych finds the net on a straightforward forehand and it's 15-15
Just realised that the set scores are arseways, apologies. It's 6-3 7-5 2-1 to Nadal
2-1 7-5 6-3 Nadal Berdych can't beat the net again and Nadal gets out of jail.
1-1 7-5 6-3 Nadal But Berdych's next return is straight out and it's Advan Nadal
1-1 7-5 6-3 Nadal Berdych charges the net again and Rafa can't find the pass Deuce
1-1 7-5 6-3 Nadal Nervy sliced backhands skim over the net from both players, but Berdych tries to blast a winner and can only find the net. His next forehand is wide again and it's Advan Nadal
1-1 7-5 6-3 Nadal Berdych can't make it this time - he tries the same shot, but it creeps outside the line. He turns up the tempo the next point and charges the net again - Rafa dumps it in the net. Break point Berdych 30-40
1-1 7-5 6-3 Nadal Two more excellent crosscourt forehands followed up by volleyed winners give Berdych the edge 15-30 Nadal
1-1 5-7 3-6 Berdych A rocket serve out wide and Berdych is Phil Lynott. But can he hold his nerve in the business end of the set? Or make inroads into Nadal's serve? Stay tuned...
0-1 5-7 3-6 Berdych Excellent play again from Berdych, forcing Nadal back and volleying home into the open court 40-15
0-1 5-7 3-6 Berdych Berdych beats Rafa at his own game there - Rafa tries to pound him into submission, but Berdych sends them back with interest before opening up the space and finishing well 30-15
0-1 5-7 3-6 Berdych Tidy start from Berdych, bossing the point from the service line, but Rafa responds with a blitz of a forehand into the corner 15-15
1-0 7-5 6-3 Nadal Stunning from Rafa - he's as far wide as you can get, crouching to get the ball back into play, but he turns it into a fantastic crosscourt pass. He then sends the next one long, but the next serve is too good.
0-0 7-5 6-3 Nadal Rafa pushes a forehand wide but his next serve doesn't come back 30-15 Nadal
That was wild - a missed half-volley, two long forehands and in the blink of an eye all Berdych's good work in the second set is gone. Poof. Berdych faltered at the worst possible time there and now the Czech player is facing a mountain. Nadal's to lose now and I don't think he knows how to do that.
7-5 6-3 Nadal Just like that, out of nowhere, Rafa conjures up a break to love and it's two sets to love. Rafa in the driving seat.
5-6 3-6 Berdych Uh-oh Berdych misses a half-volley and then blasts a forehand miles long. Three set points for Rafa 0-40 Bredych
6-5 6-3 Nadal Berdych can't get across in time and Nadal's crosscourt winner is just that. Berdych must hold now and if he does, winning the tie break is essential to his chances.
5-5 6-3 Nadal Nadal's attempted winner down the line is in doubles territory and it's 40-30
5-5 6-3 Nadal And the next first serve is too good 40-15 Nadal
5-5 6-3 Nadal Opportunity missed there - Berdych blasts a forehand into the net when the court was begging and Nadal makes no mistake next time, finishing with venom 30-15 Nadal
5-5 6-3 Nadal Berdych steps up and sends Nadal into the corner for 0-15 Nadal
5-5 3-6 Berdych Excellent ace out wide seals the game for Berdych.
4-5 3-6 Berdych A beefy serve doesn't come back and it's 30-15 The next second serve is dumped in the net by Rafa and it's 40-15
4-5 3-6 Berdych Rafa digs out an impressive get in the corner before forcing Berdych into an error and seizing the initiative with a clever finish. Berdych fights back with a good drive into the corner and Rafa's attempted pass is wide 15-15
5-4 6-3 Nadal Another serve doesn't come back and that's game Hendrix. I mean Berdych. The Czech now has to hold to stay in the set and, realistically, the match. Stat attack - Nadal has only ever lost once when leading two sets to love. Five years ago in Miami to Federer.
4-4 6-3 Nadal Chance is spurned by Berdych - he drives a short backhand into the net. Rafa follows that up with unreturnable serve and controls the next rally from the baseline to move 40-0
4-4 3-6 Berdych Very calm play at the net and an excellent sliced volley finish for the Czech to level matters in the second set
3-4 3-6 Berdych Berdych fluffs a low forehand into the net 40-30
3-4 3-6 Berdych An unreturnable serve moves him to 30-15 and an ace out wide 40-15 Berdych
3-4 3-6 Berdych Cool finish by Nadal, waiting for Berdych to move as he approaches the net before sending it easily down the opposite line. Berdych answers with an ace. 15-15
4-3 6-3 Nadal Rafa's first serve is too hot to handle, and then he presses into the net and pounds Berdych into submission
3-3 6-3 Nadal Berdych can't get the next serve back, but next time Rafa curls his forehand down the line just wide 30-15 Nadal
3-3 6-3 Nadal Long rally to start the game but Rafa comes out on top as Berdych finds the net under pressure 15-0 Nadal
3-3 3-6 Berdych An ace out wide is followed by another one - but that is overruled. No matter, his second serve out wide is too hot for Nadal to handle and the Czech holds.
2-3 3-6 Berdych Berdych sends an easy winner chance into the tramlines, but the next two points Rafa can only pop it up for Berdych to finish and he makes no mistake either time. 30-15 Berdych
3-2 6-3 Nadal But then he pushes another forehand from the net long to let Berdych back in. But only briefly as the next time, again, he corrects his error and with the same shot finds the line. Weird repeated points there. Anyway, Nadal getting the chances and putting away enough of them
2-2 6-3 Nadal Sweet rally sees both players pegging it side to side and mixing it up before Rafa's attempted backhand winner is a fraction long. Next point, he hits the line. 40-15 Nadal
2-2 6-3 Nadal Ace from Nadal and a more Rafa-esque series of forehands to the corners lead him to go up 30-0
2-2 3-6 Berdych Yet another Nadal forehand misses wide (I've lost count this set alone of his unforced errors) and a booming second serve ace draws Berdych level to love. The Czech needs to take advantage of Nadal's shaky groundstrokes while he can.
1-2 3-6 Berdych Another missed forehand by Nadal (wind?) and an ace inside by Berdych push him to a quick 30-0 Berdych
2-1 6-3 Nadal Berdych's short return draws Nadal in and he finishes it with a forehand to the corner. Rafa has dropped significantly after his impressive burst at the end of the first set, finding the net far too often. But he's still in front, holding serve. Berdych not out of it yet though.
1-1 6-3 Nadal Nadal blasts a forehand winner and doesn't find the net for a change and then Berdych pushes his drive volley into the tramlines 40-15 Nadal
1-1 6-3 Nadal Berdych has Nadal at his mercy and tries a drop shot at the net, but it won't creep over 15-15
1-1 6-3 Nadal Long rally again sees Berdych working hard and Nadal's attempted pass finds the net 0-15 Nadal
1-1 3-6 Berdych Berdych blasts Rafa back with forehands and then an ace down the middle and he holds to love. Good comeback by the Czech player.
0-1 3-6 Berdych Big first serve and Rafa can't keep it in the court. Long rally next point, but Rafa again finds the net with a short forehand. 30-0 Berdych
1-0 6-3 Nadal Berdych can only pop up a cherry for Nadal to pick and the Spaniard makes no mistake this time. Berdych gets into the next rally and splashes his preferred forehand into the corner, but it's just wide and Nadal holds - eventually.
0-0 6-3 Nadal Crikey - a third double fault by Nadal and it's back to deuce. Perhaps the wind is playing its part already Deuce
0-0 6-3 Nadal Berdych can't get that first serve back into play Advan Nadal
0-0 6-3 Nadal Three break points, three missed chances for the Czech. He finds the net with an attempted pass there. Deuce
0-0 6-3 Nadal Rafa dumps it in the net off the return again. Most unusual. Another chance for Berdych. Advan Berdych
0-0 6-3 Nadal Rafa misses his first sreve, but slices a second serve out so wide that Berdych is practically in the stands trying to reach it. He does not. Deuce
0-0 6-3 Nadal But a second double fault from Rafa hands a second break opportunity to Berdych Advan Berdych
0-0 6-3 Nadal Nadal finds his first serve when it matters and bashes a winner to the far corner Deuce
0-0 6-3 Nadal Unreturned serve out wide gets Nadal back to 30-30 Then a terrific rally as Berdych matches Nadal's movement across the baseline before Nadal finds the net for the third time in this game - break point for Berdych 30-40 Nadal
0-0 6-3 Nadal Rafa mishits a forehand, then an ace, then dumps a short forehand into the net. 15-30 Nadal
Dan Maskill's famous seventh game - Nadal seized upon a slight wobble in Berdych's first serve at 3-3 to get the vital break and then the Spaniard upped his game a couple of gears and Berdych simply couldn't keep up. The Czech started well, but now he's having to work very hard just to keep the rallys going and he's only managing to send it straight back to Rafa - that way defeat lies. He needs to make his first serves and hit winners - in order words, he's needs to be perfect to keep up.
6-3 Nadal A massive ace out wide saves one set point, but a second serve is punished by Nadal to take the first set in 34 minutes.
3-5 Berdych Big ace gets Berdych back into the game, but he sends another forehand long and he faces two set points. 15-40 Berdych
3-5 Berdych Rude netchord denies Berdych the first point and then he's sent left and right before pushing one wide. Nadal in charge. 0-30 Berdych
5-3 Nadal Rafa has definitely stepped it up all of a sudden - Berdych can't cope with these pounding forehand drives coming at him - two more vicious winners and the Spaniard cruises to a love game.
4-3 Nadal Rafa steps up the pace on the groundstrokes - booming forehands pushing Berdych back until he can't stands no more. An ace moves Rafa to 30-0
4-3 Nadal Berdych's misses another first serve (he missed four in that game) and his second serve is spanked crosscourt by Rafa to take the first break in the match. New balls to follow and Berdych will have to fight hard to get back into this set.
3-3 Berdych sends Rafa scurrying left and right to save the first break point. 15-40 Berdych
3-3 There he is - low, lunging get in the corner by Nadal and he pulls out a stunning pass down the line from nowhere. 0-40 Berdych
3-3 Nice rally to open things up, both players mixing up low backhand slices with big topspin forehands - Berdych overcooks one of his and the next point does exactly the same and he's under pressure for the first time. 0-30 Berdych
3-3 Kick serve out wide and Berdych can't get it back.
2-3 Nadal First double from Nadal and then a mishit winner to the side of the service box by Berdych brings him back into the game. 40-30 Nadal
2-3 Nadal An unreturned serve is followed up with a pounding forehand into the corner of his own from Rafa. And a quick ace out wide takes him to 40-0 Nadal
3-2 Berdych The Czech player holds with another sledgehammer forehand into the corner. It's a big, nasty flat cannon of a shot that is an extremely useful weapon.
2-2 Again on the back of his crosscourt forehand into the corner, Berdych comes to the net - this time an easy volley to the open court for the point. Nadal pushes a forehand long in the next rally to give Berdych the edge. 40-15 Berdych
2-2 Lovely rally and nice read by Berdych - another massive forehand into the corner allows the Czech to come in, but his volley is short and Rafa looks to pass, but Berdych reads his intentions and puts away the volley. Next point, however, Rafa passes him crosscourt to keep him guessing. 15-15
2-2 But a smart second serve right into the body fools Berdych and a wide out first serve is too good as Rafa gets out of trouble.
1-2 Nadal Huge backhand approach stretches Rafa and the Czech follows in and converts with a forehand to the opposite corner to put Rafa under pressure. 30-30
1-2 Nadal Terrific defence from Berdych as he retrieves two overheads from Nadal with his massive reach, turning one of them into a lovely pass down the line that Rafa can't get to. 30-15 Nadal
1-2 Nadal Another curling ace down the middle, followed an unreturned serve gets Rafa off to a quick lead. 30-0 Nadal
2-1 Berdych Rafa's topspin exceeds sensible capacity and he finds the net. Solid start from the underdog as they take to the chairs.
1-1 Berdych misses a booming forehand long for the first point against serve. Then his next first serve is called out, but he challenges the call and is rewarded with his second ace. 40-15 Berdych
1-1 Unreturned serve, followed by Berdych's first advance to the net - Rafa tries to pass but pushes it too wide and into the tramlines. 30-0 Berdych
1-1 Rafa misses three out of four first serves, but his second serves are deep and to the body and he maintains control, the rallys short and his first service game tidyily in the bag to love as well.
0-1 Nadal Rafa opens with an ace down the middle, following up the next point with a meaty topspin forehand that Berdych can't handle. In the still before the serve, some wag (male) shouts 'I LOVE YOU RAFA' much to the delight of the SW19 crowd. 30-0
1-0 Berdych Nadal gets the next two serves back into play - barely - but Berdych hammers two winners into the corners to claim an impressive opening service game to love.
0-0 We're off and running - an impressive opening rally with massive groundstrokes sees Berdych blast a winner into the back corner. He follows that up with his first - of many - unreturnable serves. 30-0 Berdych.
1415 I've been doing this jive on Wimbledon men's finals for the last three years and all three matches have been - no exaggeration - classics. Roger beat Rafa in '07 in five, Rafa beat Roger in '08 in five in what was the best tennis match I've ever seen. Last year, Roger came through against Andy Roddick 16-14 in the fifth. We can only hope for something as amazing this year.
1410 Berdych has beaten the top seed (Fed) and the third seed (Djokovic) to get here - if he beats Nadal, the second seed, he will become the only player in the Open era to complete that hat trick. Tim and Boris both propose that if Berdych fails to win the first set, he's toast.
1405 One important factor that you may have noticed if you've stepped outside today - it's seriously windy out there, and it's the same in London. Becker reckons that this will pose more of a problem for Berdych - he's a higher ball toss on his serve and hits the ball flatter. The Czech players wins the toss and elects to serve. The wonderful tennis tradition of the players warming up together prior to the game commencing. It's ace - each takes turns at the net, there's no bullish gamemanship, no blasting it down the line - it's extremely civilised. Can you imagine anything like that in football? One player would probably hurl himself on the deck and writhe around like he's been electrocuted. Boo-urns. Go tennis.
1400 The players are making the long walk through the All-England Club's corridors to centre court. Thankfully they've stopped the barbaric practice of trying to interview them just before they step out in front of the crowd. No question, Berdych appears nervous - it's the biggest day of his career by a distance. Nadal, meanwhile, is bouncing and skipping around like a deranged puppy. Or perhaps more accurately, like a hyped prize fighter on the way to the ring. He means business - based on this sequence alone, I'm going for a Nadal win in three sets.
1355 Lots of nostalgia on the Beeb - McEnroe and Borg reliving their famous 1980 final tussle. In the blink of an eye, they transmogrify into Boris Becker and Tim Henman and we are treated to scenes of the callow 17-year-old German claiming his first Wimbledon crown 25 years ago. As for Tim, he offers his copious experience on how not to win at SW19.
1350 Nadal v Berdych history - they've met 10 times on tour, Nadal leads 7-3, including winning the last six stragiht. But it hardly needs saying that this Berdych is a whole new animal and based on his form this week, a very dangerous opponent. So dangerous, that silver smoothie Bjorn Borg has tipped the Czech player to win today in four sets. Chatterbox John McEnroe reckons it'll be Nadal in four. They probably just disagreed for old time's sake.
1340 The relatively unknown Berdych made the semi-finals at the French Open a few weeks ago and is coming to the fore in the men's game. He has a lot of weapons - a monster serve (he's 6'5"), cannons for groundstrokes and a massive wingspan. And he's not a lumbering giant or anything. Rafa needs to show up today and play as well as he has been, or Berdych will turn the form book upside down, just as he did when ousting Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic on his way to the final.
1330 Welcome, welcome one and all to the men's singles final at the All-England Club in Wimbledon. Rafael Nadal is in the final again, but across the net - for once - it isn't Roger Federer, it's his conqueror Tomas Berdych of the Czech Republic. Stay with us as we bring you up-to-the-minute text commentary.
