Novak Djokovic v Rafael Nadal – live!

• Bash F5 or use our auto-refresher for the latest • Send your thoughts to john.ashdown@guardian.co.uk • Or get in touch via Twitter at @John_Ashdown 9.02pm: Right, he’s ready now. And out they come. Djokovic in Daz white, Nadal in what a paint company might call Pacific blue. 9.00pm: There’ll be a slight delay. Rafa is apparently “not ready”. 8.57pm: “Does your Def Leppard story give involve the drummer’s one good arm?” asks WiliamHardy on Twitter. Thankfully not. 8.53pm: Montage music has improved: we’ve just had a blast of Queens of the Stone Age. 8.47pm: A theory: The standout moment of Djokovic’s standout semi-final was on Federer’s first match point. It wasn’t the fizzing return that the Serb sent back to win the point (although that was astonishing) it was the way he turned to the crowd afterwards, arms outstretched, milking the applause, drinking in the adulation. For me, it was an example of the psychological advantage he has over Federer, Nadal and, if we’re going to generously throw him in the list, Andy Murray. Federer must be wondering how many majors he’s got left; Nadal, for different reasons, must also wonder how long his body will hold up to the rigours of the circuit; Murray has yet to win one and carries the weight of a nations’ hopes on his shoulders. All three are, in their own way, under pressure. Djokovic isn’t so encumbered – he’s already won a couple, has no injury worries, no records to break or legacies to ensure. He, more than the others, can simply go out and play. As I say, it’s just a theory, but I think there may be something to it. 8.40pm: Sporting events in New York are an absolute dream for the musical montage makers. They’re spoilt for choice . Sky just went for an upbeat dance track that repeated the words “New Yooooork, New Yoooork, New Yoooork, New Yoooork” to a kind of Eurobeat*. Didn’t recognise it. There were better options, though. *Any mention of terrible pop music sends me back to my most embarrassing moment in journalism. It involved interviewing Def Leppard backstage at Top of the Pops, getting trapped somewhere I didn’t want to be and being made to do something I didn’t want to do. If this goes to a fifth set I’ll tell you about it. Maybe. 8.22pm: Weather news: Bad news for fans of those who enjoy lengthy chats about the lack of lavatorial realism in modern cinema – it’s not raining. We should start, bang on schedule, at 9pm UK time (4pm in New York, New York) Preamble Evening all. Are you well. Good, good. Me? I’m dandy, or at least I was until I spilled most of my cuppa all over my desk. You’ll be pleased to hear that it’s all been mopped up (using, for it was closest to hand, a picture of Jussi Jaasekelainen) and that they keyboard area is clear for US Open final action. And what a final it should be. The No1 seed, No1 in the world, reigning Wimbledon champion and reigning Australian Open champion Novak Djokovic against the No2 seed, No2 in the world, reigning French Open champion and reigning US Open champion Rafael Nadal. It’s a repeat of the 2010 final at Flushing Meadows, won by Rafael Nadal in four sets. After that victory the Spaniard went on to beat the Serb at the World Tour Finals in London, but since then it has been all one-way traffic, traffic that has left tyre-tracks on a pair of pirate pants: BAM! Djokovic wins in three sets in the Masters final at Indian Wells DOOSH!! Djokovic wins in three sets in the Masters final in Miami WHUMP!!! Djokovic wins in straight sets in the Masters final in Madrid OOF!!!! Djokovic wins in straight sets in the Masters final in Rome And, most impressively of all … KERRRR-POW!!!!! Djokovic wins in four sets in the Wimbledon final They’ve met five times in 2011, in five finals, and Djokovic has won. Every. Single. Time. That, and the fact that he got close to tennis nirvana at times in the semi-final against Roger Federer, explains why he’s odds-on favourite tonight. US Open tennis US Open 2011 Novak Djokovic Rafael Nadal Tennis John Ashdown guardian.co.uk

Posted by on September 12, 2011. Filed under News, Politics, World News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.