Live Commentary: Lukas Rosol vs. Rafael Nadal - as it happened

Hello, and welcome to Sports Mole's coverage of the match between Lukas Rosol and Rafael Nadal in the second round at Wimbledon.

It's not often that matches in the second round of a Grand Slam capture such imagination, but this one has done. Why? Because back in 2012, Lukas Rosol, who was effectively an unknown ranked number 100 in the world rankings, produced one of the most remarkable performances in Wimbledon history to beat Rafael Nadal in five sets.

Unfortunately for Rosol, that victory is only going to light a fire inside Nadal ahead of this match. The Spaniard is already out to prove that he isn't a finished force on grass, and when up against a man who hurt his pride two years ago, this match could turn out to be a very different story to that of their previous encounter. The two players have just finished their warmup routine - we will be underway in a minute or so...once Rafa has placed all of his drinks in the correct place.

Nadal starts his service game with three meaty serves that Rosol can't return and the Spaniard has 40-0. Rosol manages to get into a rally on the fourth point but he nets and Rafa begins with a love game.

What a way to record your first point. Nadal attempts a passing shot at the net but Rosol directs a sharp volley cross-court that Nadal can't reach. Rosol gets to 30-0 but an error and a delightful Nadal forehand soon sees the Spaniard back into the game. However, that's more clinical from the Czech, who steps into court to put away a couple of forehands.

When Rosol plays tennis, there isn't a whole lot of subtlety about his game. Time after time, he is winding up his forehand, but so far, he isn't finding the desired target. Nadal holds to 15.

Nadal isn't doing too much with the ball, but he's not needing to so far. All of the errors are coming off the racquet of Rosol and he gives Nadal 15-30. However, he has more success on the following two points, driving the ball into the corner with a couple of hard forehands. He then proceeds to catch Nadal off balance during the next rally and we remain on serve.

This is warming up very nicely. Nadal whips a couple of winners past the Czech, who responds with a cross-court backhand of his own. Nadal takes the game with an unreturned serve.

While the two players are taking a break, let me bring your attention to the opportunity of having a question answered by the one and only Tim Henman! We will be speaking with Tim over the next couple of days, so if you would like to get involved, click here.

Rosol races into a 30-0 lead, but Nadal is always a danger on either wing and he forces the mistake out of his opponent. However, Rosol composes himself with a couple of huge serves and we get to 3-3. This could be developing into an exciting contest. Rosol is more than holding his own.

Nadal is happy to meet power with power from the back of the court, and it's enough for him to move 30-0 ahead, but the advantage is halved when he concedes a double fault. Rosol is really going for it on the return of serve, and he gets to 40-30, before Nadal plays a one-two off his serve to take the game.

He's really finding his groove now. Rosol holds to love and we are into the nitty-gritty part of the set.

BREAK! Boom! Rosol plays a blistering forehand down the line to reach 0-30. This is trouble for Nadal. He takes the next point but a double fault gives Rosol two break points! However, the world number one saves both to get to 40-40, but it's only a temporary reprieve. After conceding his third break point, Nadal miscues a forehand to give Rosol the chance to serve for the first set!

SET! The flatness of Rosol's hitting is superb. After stepping into court to send a volley into the corner, he follows up with a forehand winner and an ace to earn three set points. This is power tennis at its finest! Another first-serve return is sent long by Nadal and Rosol takes the lead!

Nadal needs to do something to stop the juggernaut that is Lukas Rosol. The Czech drills a backhand return into the corner for 15-30 and this is worrying times for the Spaniard. However, he's given a reprieve when Rosol misfires three times in succession.

If Rosol can keep this up, he wins. Simple. A forehand down the line and two more aces see him secure another hold to love.

Nadal starts the game well, but he gives Rosol a chance for another winner and he bludgeons the ball into a corner. On the next point, a Rosol backhand hits the top of the net and goes LONG - that's how hard he is hitting the ball. Nadal takes the next two points and we remain on serve.

The confidence is oozing from Rosol. Two more aces help him hold to 15 - the one point he conceded came from a double fault where his second serve hit 126mph!

BREAK! Incredible stuff. Rosol drives a backhand return winner past the flailing arm of Nadal before a top-spin forehand is directed into the corner. It's 0-30, and that soon becomes 0-40. Wow! Rosol fires a return straight back at Nadal, who can only go long. The Czech has three break points, but he only needs one as he thumps a cross-court backhand past the Spaniard. Honestly, this is unreal! Nadal is being overpowered.

Nadal has an opening at 0-15, but he misses a sitter of a backhand to allow Rosol back on level terms. Rosol edges ahead when a backhand catches the sideline, but he dumps a shot into the net to see Nadal get back to 30-30. No first serves in this game so far. He connects this time though, and Nadal nets. It's game point, and Rosol takes it with an ace that hits the 127mph mark on the speed gun.

Rosol makes another return to go 0-15 ahead, but this is better from Nadal, who sends down two aces in a row to hold serve. He needs to find a way to break Rosol, though.

BREAK! Now then. Rosol miscues a baseline shot for 0-15 before Nadal overpowers his opponent in a lengthy exchange to move to 0-30. Rosol is weakening here, and he sends a backhand into the net to give Nadal three break points. The first is saved, but a sharp return forces Rosol onto the back foot and Nadal is on level terms.

There is a different complexion to this match now. Nadal races into a 40-0 lead with a couple of dominant points, and although Rosol gets back to 40-30, the Spaniard serves out the game. Rosol must now serve to remain in this second set.

The first serve of Rosol is working again and the Czech holds to 15 in just over a minute. He needs to continue to be bold in the closing moments of this set or else Nadal will capitalise.

Nadal has found a rhythm on his first serve and Rosol's only joy is coming from ambitious attempts at a return. He middles a return to get back to 40-15, but Nadal takes the game with a drop volley at the net.

The flat hitting of Rosol continues, but he is only partly successful. It's 15-15, but Rosol survives a near miss after a Nadal lob just misses the baseline. The world number one has better luck when a Rosol shot catches the top of the net which allows him to step into court. Crucial moments here, but Rosol comes through with a fine backhand down the line. We are heading into a tie-break!

Nadal takes the opening point with an unreturned first serve but Rosol follows suit with one out wide. Nadal looks in control of the next point but Rosol directs a wonderful forehand down the line to keep hold of his serve. The Czech nets twice in succession to see Nadal move 3-2 ahead, but Rosol keeps with his opponent with a forehand winner.

Nadal is furious with himself after sending a forehand long of the baseline to allow Rosol to move 4-3 ahead, and his frustration gets worse when Rosol finds the corner with a forehand winner for the mini-break! Nadal takes the next point to reduce the deficit, and we are back on level terms after Rosol nets a half volley. It's 5-5, but that soon becomes set point to Rosol after a 125mph ace. Can Nadal survive? He can, and in fine style too.

SET! It's set point for Nadal after Rosol hooks a return into the tramlines. Can Rosol keep in this set? No! Disaster for the Czech. He double-faults, and Nadal is level. What a match.

It's important that Rosol gets off to a strong start in the third. He was 4-2 up in the set and 5-3 up in the tie-break before losing that second set. He chips in with a couple of winners, but the errors are beginning to come off his racquet now. He has a routine smash to seal the game, but he sends it miles wide! It's deuce, but Rosol finds a couple of big shots to get him through the game.

Nadal holds comfortably enough to 30 to get on the board in this set. It's been a while since Rosol has had much joy on Nadal's serve.

BREAK! Nadal moves into a 0-30 advantage before Rosol halves the deficit. However, the Czech makes another mistake to gift Nadal two break points. The biggest moment of the match coming up, but Rosol survives both opportunities! A forehand catches the line before Nadal miscues a forehand. However, Nadal produces a moment of brilliance to earn a third chance. The pair become embroiled in a frantic exchange but Nadal is able to pass Rosol at the net. Rosol survives once again, but he can't for a fourth time and Nadal has the break. Is that the turning point in the match?

This is beginning to look ominous for Rosol. Nadal is really imposing himself in every exchange, and the Czech isn't getting much of a look in. He holds to love.

Rosol powers into a 30-0 lead but unlike earlier in the match where Nadal was attempting to meet power with power, he is varying his approach and a delicate slice down the line completely deceives his opponent. However, Rosol comes back with a couple of timely first serves to ensure that he remains competitive in the set.

The Czech has looked on the brink of being outclassed over the past 20 minutes, but he gets to 15-30 on Nadal's serve. Nadal takes two points in a row, but a powerful backhand return ensures that Rosol moves to deuce. He can't get over the line though, and Nadal records an ace on the way to seeing out the game.

He's not firing on all cylinders, but Rosol survives from 15-30 down to record three successive points for the game. He's making Nadal work for this set.

Rosol connects with a forehand return to get to 15-30. The openings are coming now. However, he tries to step around a wide serve but he can only frame the ball skywards. Two more first serves from the Spaniard and he remains a break ahead.

Rosol eases into a 40-0 leave with a smash and a routine volley, but Nadal responds with a return winner down the line. It's not enough to halt Rosol, though, and a forehand deep into the corner forces Nadal to serve for the set. This could get interesting...

SET! Well, not that interesting. A miscued forehand and two unreturned first serves from Rosol see Nadal race to 40-0 before the left-hander fires down an ace for the set.

BREAK! Nadal is straight onto the attack at the start of this fourth set. Three winners take him to 0-40, and Rosol offers little response in dumping a forehand long of the baseline to drop his serve to love.

Rosol looks a beaten man. Nadal races into a 40-0 lead courtesy of a smash before Rosol lets out his frustration in blasting another forehand wide of the mark.

Rosol has failed to take a point in the opening two games of this set, and that run continues as Rosol proceeds to make two more mistakes to give Nadal 0-30. However, finally, some kind of response from the Czech, who explodes into life with three huge serves and a second-serve ace.

Nadal survives a hawk-eye challenge from Rosol to move 15-0 ahead before he starts to turn on the style again. He is in full flow on both his forehand and backhand sides and Rosol has no reply as the world number one holds to love.

Rosol holds to 15 to ensure that Nadal isn't going to run away with the match. The problem lies in Nadal's service games because the Spaniard just doesn't like letting his advantage slip.

The Czech isn't helping himself with the amount of balls that he is sending out of court. Nadal doesn't have to do much to draw the mistakes out of Rosol and the left-hander holds to love.

Rosol put away a drive volley to stop himself from falling 0-30 behind, but he nets a forehand on the next point to give Nadal an opening. However, three successive points see him reduce the deficit to one and he's managing to find a way to stick around.

A forehand winner from the back of the court sees Nadal breeze into a 40-0 advantage, but Rosol battles back with a backhand conversion. It doesn't deny Nadal, though, and a crunching forehand from the back of the court sees him move one away from the third round.

Rosol serves out to love in what is the potentially the quickest game ever recorded! He fires down four first serves that Nadal can barely touch. When we return, Nadal will serve for the match.

MATCH! Rosol must strike back here, but he misses a glaring opportunity on a second serve. However, he connects on the next point for 15-15, but another shot into the net proves to be his undoing. The Czech remains upbeat though, and he has 30-30 when Nadal nets. Wow! Nadal barely reaches the net with a miscued forehand and Rosol has a break point! What a reply from the Spaniard, who quickly takes control of the point and converts a forehand winner. Nadal brings up match point on two occasions, but Rosol is digging so deep and survives both times. He can't hang in there a third time though, and a big first serve sees Nadal advance to the next round.

As far as second round matches go, you can't ask for much more than that. Rosol dominated the first hour of this contest, but Nadal displayed all of his fighting qualities to haul himself back into the match before going on to secure a four-set victory in just under three hours.

The world number one will face Kazakhstan's Mikhail Kukushkin in the last 32, with that match scheduled to take place on Saturday afternoon. Nadal will be hoping that it's far easier test than he faced today!

Before I leave you this afternoon, remember that there is still time for you to send in a question to be answered by former British number one Tim Henman. You can find all the details by clicking here.

That will be all from Sports Mole's coverage this afternoon. Thank you for joining us and we hope to see you again as the tournament progresses. Goodbye for now.