Rafael Nadal v Novak Djokovic, ATP World Tour Finals 2013 final at O2 arena: live Nadal 4-6 3-6 Djokovic* We haven't seen much evidence on the telly pictures, but Nadal is reportedly moving quite gingerly on that pesky knee. He plays a meek, poorly-guided forehand down the line which drops out, then Djokovic charges forward on the next point to slam home a winner. Sublime forehand on the run from Nadal next, passing Djok and dropping just in. More determination from Nadal, to bring it back to 30-30, but he can do little about the Serb's next serve and it's another championship point. Stupendous save from Nadal, who punches the air with feeling at the end of a fabulous rally, scooping a forehand out close to the net to beat the advanced Djokovic. It's deuce. Ace from Djok, another championship point. Nadal goes wide, Djokovic wins the ATP World Tour Finals! Nadal 4-6 3-5 Djokovic Djokovic can't return Rafa's first serve within the pre-defined and accepted boundaries of a tennis court. Rafael Nadal then fails to hit the ball over the pre-defined and accepted net over the middle of the tennis court. It's soon 30-30, then Rafa puts a backhand into the net, which has been something of a trademark for him in this point. It's championship point for Djokovic. He's forced into an off-balance backhand at the rear of the court. Deuce. Nadal demonstrates his class, warrior instinct, and sweaty headband. All three of those win him two excellent points in quick succession. Djokovic will have to serve it out. He's looking relatively calm at the changeover: Nadal 3-6 3-5 Djokovic* Slightly dubious looking out call to me at 15-0, with Nadal's forehand looking like it's on the line after a long rally. He doesn't challenge it. Djokovic then plays an impeccable point to win another attritional rally to make it 40-0. An inebriated man shouts "Come on Andy." Then a "Come on Tim." Double fault from Djokovic, only the fourth point he's lost on serve. Stunning, aggresive forehand from Djok pins Rafa back, and the Serb wraps up the point at the net. Nadal serving to stay in the match. Nadal 3-6 3-4 Djokovic These are concerning times for the world's best tennis player. Djokovic has had the better of this entire match, bar about a game and a half. Crowd's "come on Rafa" shouts now sounding slightly agitated. Suggest they just want as much tennis as possible for their £$£. Anyway, it;s Djokovic quicjk;y winning control of the points, even on Nadal's serve, and dictating the play. Another sumptious volley at the net gives Nadal no chance, and he's got another two break points. Nadal fights back to deuce, like the hairbanded champion he is. Djokovic throws up his hands in frustration for missing a return. Then Nadal takes a big, depserate swing from well behind the baseline. It's out. Back to deuce. Ace for Nadal, then Djokovic loses his understanding of the exact location of the far corner, putting one slightly too long. Good hold by Nadal. Another failure to go two breaks up from Djokovic. Will he now have another mild wobble? Nadal 3-6 2-4 Djokovic* A-C-E. That's how Novak Djokovic spells the beginning to this game. I'll stop that now. Gorgeous play from him for the next point, Nadal scrapping to stay in the point, but Djokovic edging forward and digging out a beautiful backhand which gives Nadal no chance. Another grimace from him and a clutch of the knee. And it's another ace for 40-0. But Djokovic made to work for it now, and he rushes a backhand, stretching on the baseline, and we're back to 40-30. Monster first serve and smash into vacant court wraps it up. The Nadal loyalists aren't giving up: Nadal 3-6 2-3 Djokovic Far better from Nadal, getting some wicked spin on laser-targeted balls finding the very edges of the court. Djokovic can't get a sniff and it's 40-0 quick;y. The Serb wins one back with a calm drop shot at the net. Nadal looking slightly pained as he tried to reach that, an almost involuntary clutch at his troublesome left knee. He calms down to hold. Now he's holding a banana. And eating a bit of it. Nadal 3-6 1-3 Djokovic* No let up from Novak, especially fantastic ace to make it 40-0 among a game of near-unchallenged supremacy. Ill-judged sliced forehand goes wide for Nadal and Djokovic holds to love. This is in danger of slipping away from Nadal, big game coming up for him. Nadal 3-6 1-2 Djokovic Rueful shake of the head from Nadal after another loose return goes long. Same again, to make it 0-30. Djokovic is doing his telescopic body thing beautifully, frustrating Nadal with his irritating ability to return everything. Then a really rotten forehand from Nadal which is miles wide of the tramline. Three break points for Djokovic. The Serb does some panicking, picking out a couple of unforced errors of his own to make it 30-40. But Nadal's next return is too long! Djokovic breaks! Nadal 3-6 1-1 Djokovic* The Djoker's up to 40-15 without much bother, returning a Nadal arrow at 30-15 to put his opponent into a tricky spot. He serves it out to hold. He's looking good. Rafael Nadal is looking like he's trying very hard: Nadal 3-6 1-0 Djokovic No signs of improvement from Nadal, two uncharacteristic mistakes make it 0-30. It's nearly worse, as Djokovic spots a gap straight up the line to exploit with his forehand, but it's marginally wide. Imperious smash to wrap up the next point by Nadal and we're back to 30-30. Hawk-eye-based let-off for Nadal, who's correct to challenge an out call which, it turns out, was in by the tiniest of margins. The Spaniard holds. Top work after going 0-30 down. 21.20 Pretty thrilling first set, Djokovic steeled himself well after a wobble after failing to go two breaks up. Too many mistakes from Nadal. How do you motivate yourself for a tournament at which Get Lucky plays between sets when you already know you're going to be year-end number one, though? That's what he's asking himself right now as popular sexist Pharrell Williams does some crooning. Second set imminent. Here's Luis Garrido in answer to the question posed above: Nadal 3-6 Djokovic* Nadal hanging around in these long rallies, which Djokovic has unquestionably had the best of so far. Another fabulous point at 15-15, which Nadal wins with a blind back-to-the-net backhand smash which somehow lands at his opponent's toes. As you do. Djokovic sneaks back to 30-30 with a very fortunate groundstroke which clips the net and dribbles over. The traditional sheepish raised-racquet salute to apologise. Then Djokovic brings up set point. Big first serve into the corner. Djokovic wins the first set. Nadal 3-5 Djokovic Pivotal game, this. Back to tense, cagey baseline rallies. Disappointing return from Nadal during the fourth point of the game after a terrific response to a first serve from Djokovic makes it 30-30. Then Nadal nets again when you'd expect him to do better. Another break point for Novak. Nadal pulls an exceptional serve out of his racquet-shaped bag, 125mph, even Stretch Djokovic can't make that one. Fourth double fault of the match from Nadal at deuce, another chink of light for Djoko. And that's a ludicrous point! Absurdly fast to the corner to a shot he had no right to get to, then he pulls out a lob which Nadal has to hamper back to return. Some scintillating volleys at the net, then Djokovic puts it away. He'll serve for the set. Top tweeting from Dan Quarrell: Nadal 3-4 Djokovic* More or less exactly the game Djokovic needed, moving to 40-0 with a minimum of effort and entirely free of errors. Then a stunning Nadal forehand pass down the line brings gasps of admiration from the crowd. Nadal can't get his next return over. The Buzzcocks Ever Fallen In Love soundtracks the changeover, rather than something inoffensive and hi-NRG from this year's top 10. That one slipped through the net! A musical director somewhere is getting fired tomorrow... Nadal 3-3 Djokovic Another punishing rally, Djokovic coming off on top with a beautifully-judged return to a Nadal forehand that skipped off the surface. Some exemplary serving from Nadal takes him to 40-15. Another examples to the ill-mannered spectators taking selfies with their flash on... Nadal holds. Here's Djokovic in all his finery: Nadal 2-3 Djokovic* Djokovic is still smarting. 15-30 on his service game after a few loose shots. Then a perplexing attempt at a backhand pass which is out. Two break points for Nadal. First one is saved by pinning Nadal into the corner and charging forward. Then an un-returnably fearsome first serve to bring up deuce. Advantage Nadal after a neat backhand, another chance to break. Simple forehand misjudged by Djokovic, it's out and Nadal breaks back. Nadal 1-3 Djokovic Right Rafa, come on, are you going to donate this first set or dig in? First wild shot of the match from Djokovic, putting a regulation backhand wide. Then another overhit return, this time a long forehand. Back to 30-30 now, with a grimacing Nadal hitting another highly erratic shot, far too long, far too floaty. Out. Then a double fault! Another break point for Djokovic. The crowd try to rouse him some. Love it when Djokovic basically does the splits to make a return possible. Less keen on another poorly-executed backhand up the line which is out. He makes a pained noise. Nadal wraps it up with two swift points. You sense Djokovic gave up on that after missing the break point. Plucky underdog Nadal is on the scoreboard. Nadal 0-3 Djokovic* Tim Henman "senses" that Djokovic's "intensity level" is at a "nine and half out of 10." He fools no-one, we all know that former Wimbledon semi-finalists are given an intensity level-ometer with which to gauge intensity levels in their punditry careers. Dubious machinery or not, Djokovic is looking good. Too much for Nadal at the moment, with some attacking backhands forcing the Spaniard into hurried shot choices. He's hitting his forehands a bit long too, and it's 40-15 as another one sails out. Nadal claws back a point, then there's another extended baseline rally. Nadal blinks first, miscuing another forehand which can't beat the net. Nadal 0-2 Djokovic A chap in the front row is getting a severe talking to from the umpire for persistent illegal flash photography. Come on mate, you're not at a concert at the Millenium Dome. Despite all the loud music. And the fact you're at the Millennium Dome... Nadal looks adversely affected, Djokovic pulling him all over the shot and quickly getting himself three break points! First one is saved by a beautiful low cross-court volley from Nadal, teasing it past Djokovic who'd come forward. But there's an error from Nadal, not enough on a backhand, it hits the net and Djokovic breaks. Nadal 0-1 Djokovic* Djokovic serves well to take the first point of the game, then gets involved in a mammoth rally which, you feel, will become a feature tonight. He's up to 40-15 in short order, with an especially muscular backhand return proving too much for Nadal on the penultimate point. An ace concludes the first game. 20.34 We're off! Djokovic serves first. It's a fault. I shall now transfer to traditional tennis liveblogging style. 20.33 The low-intensity drum and bass continues as the players do some serving practice. Luz Molina has done an email: Arctic Monkeys should play at the end of the match. Their sound is fast, energizing, and powerful, just like the two finalists that are about the dazzle on the court! 20.24 Djokovic has won the toss. He went for heads. It was heads. He really is incredible at picking what side a tossed coin will land on. He's decided to serve. First: some poilite hitting the ball to one another while John Newman's Love Me Again plays. 20.20 The ludicrous blue heartbeat of season-ending London tennis begins. Here come the players... Defending champion Novak strolls throug the dry ice first. 20.18 Rafael has given his pre-match interview to the BBC while dressed as a man you wouldn't want to meet in a dark alley: Alert David Cameron, that man needs a hug. 20.08 Last three Grand Slam meetings between these have gone Nadal's way. The three before that were all Novakictories. This year they've played five times, Nadal has won three to Djokovic's two. This is alsmost certainly going to three sets, right? 19.58 The doubles are done! The Spanish pair of Verdasco and Marrero have won the title. They're doing some very excited running around while the extremely-worn out copy of David Bowie's Heroes which belongs to London plays. Djok v Raf relatively soon now. 19.50 Boris Becker is dead excited, and has taken an Instagram snap of his wife to ram home the point: 19.35 The doubles final is still taking place, and it could be taking place for a while longer. The Bryan Brothers lost the first set to Marrero & Verdasco, and it's still on serve in the second. Here are the Bryans wondering how it is that they're playing a doubles tennis match and not winning: 19.20 Here's one of the better things to have happened in the Dome in the past week: 19.00 Evening liveblog fans. Rafael Nadal. He's alright, isn't he? He's generally accepted at being quite good at tennis. He's world number one. He's got gorgeous hair. One thing he doesn't have is a World Tour Finals trophy in his town-sized climate-controlled cabinet. Novak Djokovic has two of the things. He's fighting for a non-consecutive hat-trick this evening against a man whose second coming is up there with the likes of Aaron Ramsey, Take That and Jesus. He's also fighting the rather more intriguing battle for the tennis fans community's love. Despite quite clearly being a wonderful man: ...he's still a distant fourth in the affections of British fans behind Handy Andy, Regal Roger and Raffish Rafa. Is tonight the night when he silences his doubters? Will Nadal cap an incredible year with the elusive trophy he so desperately craves (probably)? Will the players finish up in time for the late screening of Gravity in 3D in the cinema upstairs from the arena? All this and more will be answered. 15.00 Thom Gibbs will be here from 7pm to talk you through the 2013 ATP World Tour Finals final between Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic. Join him then, and read Simon Briggs on Rafael Nadal's victory over Roger Federer in the meantime: There was a mournful note to the crowd's appreciation on Sunday as Roger Federer ambled slowly towards the tunnel, head down and racket bag dangling from his shoulder like a broken wing. He had just ended a deflating 2013 season with a 7-5, 6-3 defeat against Rafael Nadal, the man who has been chipping away at his aura of invincibility for the best part of a decade. Nadal will now meet Novak Djokovic in Monday night's final, after they each beat a Swiss opponent to silence the cowbells at the O2. For Federer, the result can hardly have been a shock. It was the 22nd time Nadal had beaten him, after all. The worrying thing however is that, this year, some ordinary opponents have followed that lead. Sergiy Stakhovsky, Federico Delbonis and Daniel Brands have all inflicted embarrassing defeats on a player who would once have dismissed them from his sight. Yet while Federer may be done for 2013, he insisted once again that he will return to the fray in January. "I have many other things to do in my life than play tennis," he said. But as long as I have the choice, I'll keep on playing.