Day 13 commentary

A detailed look back at the 13th day of this year's Wimbledon.

2122 "I'll be back next year" promises Federer - and so will we. Let's hope next year's tournament is as dramatic as this final.

2121 As the camera flashes light up the gloom, Nadal holds up the trophy which his beaten opponent has won for each of the last five years.

2116 He's done it!! Federer nets a forehand and Nadal collapses to the turf, the new Wimbledon champion.

2115 Another big, wide serve is unreturned and Nadal has a fourth shot at the title....

2114 What a response! Nadal serves wide but Federer stretches to a fire a backhand winner to the opposite corner for deuce.

2114 Federer scuffs a backhand wide and Nadal has a third championship point.

2112 Nadal sends Federer scampering out wide and is at the net to meet his backhand with a volleyed winner for 30-15. A misjudgement then costs him the next point as he plays a ball which looked to be going long. 30-30.

2111 Nadal sends a forehand long for 0-15, before coming in to volley a winner - his first serve and volley of the match.

2110 Nadal sits in his chair at the changeover, knowing he just needs to hold serve to become Wimbledon champion...

2109 Nadal beats Federer with a stunning backhand winner and gets to 15-40. Up against it again, Federer swings an ace out wide and then Nadal hits a backhand long after slipping. A mistake from Federer gives Nadal a third break point, another big serve clears the danger. Federer nets on a forehand and Nadal has a fourth chance to break. This time he takes it as Federer goes long!

2104 Federer somehow returns a Nadal smash and gets the ball to loop over his opponent, but Nadal gets back and beats him with a forehand winner. Thrilling stuff as Nadal holds for 7-7.

2058 Nadal batters his way to 0-30. Federer's response is predictable, three big serves get him out of trouble but he nets a volley on game point with the court open. It's a struggle but Federer holds eventually for a 7-6 lead.

2052 The tension is clearly getting to Nadal, who is wayward on four first serves. Yet he holds for the loss of just one point and it's 6-6.

2048 Half an hour for either man to find a break of serve or we're coming back tomorrow...

2048 Nadal finds a stunning forehand into the corner to earn two break points. Federer responds with an ace before forcing an error to snuff out both. He holds for 6-5.

2044 A tentative slice from Nadal is punished as Federer gets to 30-30, but he can't force a championship point as Nadal serves out the game for 5-5.

2040 A 22nd ace contributes to a service hold for Federer who now leads 5-4.

2037 Brilliant from Federer, who slams a forehand winner down the line to earn break point, but Nadal works the chance for a smash and saves before holding for 4-4.

2030 Federer holds to love in a blink of an eye and takes a 4-3 lead.

2028 Nadal breezes through the sixth game to tie it up at 3-3. Remember there is no tie-break in this fifth set, so one of these players will have to force a break of serve - the last was in the ninth game of the second set.

2023 Federer wraps up the fifth game with two aces, and heads off for a hard-earned sit down.

2018 The weather should stay fine for the rest of the night - it's two sets apiece, two games apiece and deuce on the Federer serve, and play is a couple of minutes away.

2012 The covers are coming off once again, so the players should be out very soon, hopefully for the remainder of this final.

1956 That might not be the end of the tennis for today - play can go on until around 9.15 or a touch later, so if this shower pushes through in 20 or 30 minutes then there could be time to finish the final.

1953 Disastrous news: It's deuce, but it's also raining, and the covers are coming on.

1950 Nadal deals with his service game admirably. If he's thinking about those two missed Championship points, it doesn't show.

1946 A couple of uncharacteristic errors put Federer under pressure, and a double fault brings Nadal back to deuce. Federer copes with it though and holds to lead 2-1 in this final set.

1941 Federer booms a forward return long and Nadal has the second game. 1-1.

1936 After the drama of the tie-break, Federer comes out to serve first in the decider and holds for a 1-0 lead. He's in front for the first time since he won the first game.

1931 Nadal goes long with a second serve return and Federer lets out a defiant shout as he takes the fourth set, forcing a decider in a magnificent contest. The tie-break ended 10-8 and featured some of the very best shots of the match.

1929 Nadal finds the corner with a brilliant first serve, but Federer gets into position and beats him with an incredible backhand pass. 8-8. Federer then works his opponent around the baseline again, makes the space, and plants a winner into the corner for 9-8 and set point.

1927 Federer goes long and his challenge fails, giving Nadal championship point at 7-6. A perfect serve cancels it out, but Nadal beats Federer with a stunning forehand winner to bring another chance at 8-7, this time on serve.

1925 Nadal serves at set point down and saves courtesy of a Federer error. 6-6 at the change of ends.

1924 Federer serves out wide and then swats away Nadal's return on the forehand for 5-5. A big serve down the centre is unreturned and Federer leads 6-5.

1923 Federer hits back, coming in behind his return and forcing the error from Nadal to bring it back to 5-4.

1922 Double fault! Nadal could have challenged as the ball appeared to drop off the net onto the line.

1920 Federer goes down the line with a forehand winner and makes it 4-2 to the Spaniard. A backhand then goes wide from the champion and Nadal has two serves for the title at 5-2.

1919 An ace out wide, using the gusty wind, puts Nadal 3-1 ahead. Another big serve is unreturned and it's 4-1. Nadal is closing in.

1918 Nadal hits back with a forehand winner of his own for 1-1, before Federer goes wide on a forehand to surrender the mini-break.

1916 Half the crowd are chanting "Rafa!" the other half "Roger!" and it sounds like they're supporting Rofer. Roger wins the first point on the Rafa serve with a brilliant forehand winner.

1915 Federer succeeds in the first part, holding serve to bring about a second tie-break.

1912 Another Nadal service game brings a familiar result - no impact from Federer. It's 6-5, and the champion must hold and then win a tie-break to force a deciding set.

1910 Nadal pushes another backhand long before Federer beats him with a second forehand winner out wide to hold for 5-5.

1909 Nadal goes long with a backhand and is then beaten by a forehand winner as Federer recovers to 30-30...

1907 Federer finds himself under increasing pressure as Nadal whips in a backhand winner to move to 0-30....

1904 Nadal produces a thumping backhand winner, right onto the sideline, and goes on to dominate another service game for a 5-4 lead. Federer must hold now.

1901 Federer puts away a big forehand at 30-30 when things were getting a little tense. Nadal then nets and it's 4-4.

1857 Another love service game from Nadal - Federer is running out of time to make the break.

1854 Nadal hits back from 40-15 to deuce, but Federer takes the next two points to level it up again at 3-3.

1849 Nadal turns up the heat with another confident service game. It's 3-2.

1847 Federer drops just one point as he holds serve for 2-2. The match is now two hours and 48 minutes old.

1843 Federer gets to 15-30 but Nadal wins the next three points and holds for a 2-1 lead.

1839 Federer is determined not to give up his title without a fight and he comfortably holds serve to make it 1-1.

1837 Nadal is serving first in the fourth set and that could be an advantage if he can keep his nose in front. He starts well enough with a love service game.

1832 An ace out wide gives Federer the set at the third attempt, and he's back in this match at 2-1 down.

1831 Nadal puts away a volley to kill the first set point, and Federer is unable to return a solid first serve and it's 6-5.

1830 Federer goes wide with a top-spin forehand for 5-3, but a big serve takes the next point and brings three set points at 6-3.

1828 Federer attacks a second serve with a wondferful return for a 4-2 lead at the change of ends, before finding the corner with a forehand winner to lead 5-2.

1826 A Federer forehand is called long but he challenges successfully, then fires down an angry ace for 2-2. Another ace down the centre makes it 3-2 Federer.

1825 A Federer backhand drifts long for 1-1 and the champion then nets with a backhand. 2-1 Nadal.

1824 Federer opens the breaker with an ace down the middle. 1-0.

1824 Nadal seals a love service game with an ace down the centre and takes the third set into a tie-break.

1820 A solid service game takes Federer 6-5 ahead. Now he has two chances to extend the match - break, or win a tie-break.

1818 Nadal quickly moves to 40-0, but loses the next three points, the third on a double fault. Federer can't make any futher impression though and Nadal levels at 5-5.

1801 The rain has cleared and the players are coming back out onto Centre Court. Nadal leads by two sets and is serving at 4-5 in the third.

1744 The rain is much lighter now, but it's still falling. There is a chance of playing getting started again at 6.

1651 The dark clouds overhead have burst! The players are leaving the court and the covers are hurriedly applied.

1650 The double can't prevent Federer from holding serve and staying ahead at 5-4.

1649 Federer serves a double fault - his first of the match and just his fifth of the tournament.

1648 Nadal holds serve for 4-4 and puts the pressure right back on Federer.

1644 Federer grimly hangs on, saving the three break points and holding for a 4-3 lead.

1642 Federer looks disgusted with himself after missing those chances against the Nadal serve and his mood worsens as the Spaniard races to 0-40....

1640 Federer threatens the Nadal serve again as he earns four break points, but he fails to capitalise and Nadal holds for 3-3.

1632 Nadal hits an incredible double-backhand winner on the stretch from two yards beyond the baseline, across the court, right onto the sideline.

1630 And Federer holds again for a 3-2 lead.

1629 There's a large dark cloud hovering just behind Centre Court....

1628 Nadal has to fight to save his serve, saving two break points including one successful challenge, but he makes it 2-2.

1622 Nadal gets the all-clear from the trainer and there is no injury time-out.

1620 Federer holds with ease, giving Nadal the chance to get some treatment.

1619 Nadal slips behind the baseline and his right knee - which has given him trouble for some time - appears to twist underneath him. He's moving OK, but has called for the trainer in the next changeover.

1617 Nadal holds serve for 1-1 without any alarms.

1614 Federer kicks off the third set with a love service game. Of his 65 consecutive wins on grass, only one has gone to five sets - last year's final.

1611 Federer deceives Nadal with some wicked spin and gets himself a break point, but nets at the crucial moment. A wild forehand from the champion then gives Nadal a second set point, and this time he takes it. It's Nadal's set 6-4, and surely Nadal's championship now.

1606 Nadal drifts an exquisite backhand winner to bring his first set point, but Federer forces him wide and he nets with a forehand...

1601 Nadal turns on the style against the Federer serve as some pure hitting gets him a second successive break. A stunning forehand winner takes him to 5-4 and he'll serve for the second set.

1558 Nadal unsuccessfully challenges a line call and gives Federer break point, but kills it off with a big serve before holding for 4-4.

1555 Federer wins the rally of the match, stretching for a backhand which Nadal runs all the way around before returning a forehand, only to net a simple forehand on his next shot. Outstanding stuff. Nadal nets again on game point - he's not getting anything for free now - and it goes to deuce...

1549 Nadal goes on the attack and makes it count, battering a backhand down the line on break point which Federer can only volley high and long. It's 4-3 Federer and back on serve.

1546 With a break in the bank, Federer doesn't look too concerned by every point that goes awry on the Nadal serve, as the second seed holds for 2-4.

1540 Federer races through his next service game, banging down two more aces to take his tally for the match to seven.

1539 Nadal gets on the scoreboard in this second set, facing little resistance from Federer who leads 3-1.

1535 A brilliant backhand return winner from Nadal can't prevent Federer from holding serve again and opening a 3-0 lead.

1533 The champion is fighting back. Federer earns his first break point of the second set and snaps it up, whipping a forehand winner across Nadal for a 2-0 lead.

1528 Federer sends out a strong signal at the start of the second set, a fourth ace contributing to a love service game.

1525 Federer's forehand wins out again for another break point, but he misses it with a weak backhand return to a second serve. A long backhand from Federer gives Nadal a third set point and this time he takes it when the top seed nets on a backhand. First set to Nadal 6-4 in 48 minutes.

1522 The champion volleys at the net but it drops just behind the baseline and the chance is lost. A first ace from Nadal gives him his second set point, but Federer dominates after a second serve and it goes back to deuce....

1520 Federer gets to 15-30 but goes long with a backhand before a rasping forehand to the corner brings set point for Nadal. Federer engineers a position for a backhand winner to deny him and then charges into the net to put away a volley for his second break point....

1513 Federer holds serve with ease as Nadal readies himself to serve for a one-set lead.

1512 Nothing doing yet for Federer. A deft lob by the champion raises a few cheers but Nadal holds for a 5-3 lead and is just one game away from taking the opening set.

1507 Federer returns to his seat after holding serve again, but at 4-3 down he must make an impact against Nadal's serve. There's little to choose between them, but Nadal has the crucial break.

1503 Nadal holds his serve comfortably to stay a break ahead at 4-2.

1459 A love service game from Federer brings it back to 3-2.

1458 Federer hits back from 40-0 down to force a break point, but misses it with a long forehand and Nadal snuffs out the threat to lead 3-1. Some of the tennis is of the highest standard, although the crowd has been a little slow in warming to it so far.

1446 The first break point of the match goes to Nadal after Federer nets with a backhand, and the Spaniard makes his move with a deep backhand which rears up off the baseline and deceives the champion. Nadal leads 2-1.

1443 Nadal double-faults on game point but he wins the game when Federer goes wide with a forehand. 1-1.

1440 Remember, andy.clarke@bskyb.com is the address for all comments on this final.

1438 Nadal opens up with a dazzling forehand winner right onto the baseline, but Federer dominates the next three rallies and completes the service hold with an ace down the centre. Gripping stuff already.

1435 Here we go, the players have returned to their seats. Just time for the final fashion adjustments and to point the water bottles in the right direction, and we're off!

1426 The players are out on court and knocking up. Federer will serve first once the warm-up is out of the way.

1415 I can be a little more precise. Play will start in 10 minutes, weather permitting.

1415 Good news - the covers are beginning to come off and play should get under way 'very shortly'. Aaron in Melbourne reckons Federer will win in five sets, just as he did last year, and asks if the Wimbledon roof will be ready in 2009? Yes it will, so when it's raining this time next year, we'll be five minutes into the final.

1335 Time for a weather update - it's raining. Another hour or so of rain is expected, hopefully it will begin to clear at around 2.30pm and play can begin some time after that.

1302 This is the third year running that Federer and Nadal have met in the final, with Federer winning in four and then five sets. Most experts believe that Nadal has closed the gap once more over the last 12 months so he must have a real chance of ending the champion's dominance of this tournament and his 65-match winning streak on grass.

1300 Welcome to the final day - hopefully - of Wimbledon 2008. Rain showers are expected over the next hour or so, meaning the start of the men's final between Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal could be delayed. In the mean time, you can email any thoughts or questions to andy.clarke@bskyb.com.