Live Commentary: US Open final - Novak Djokovic vs. Roger Federer - as it happened

Hello, and welcome to Sports Mole's live coverage of the US Open final between Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer.

After 13 days of competition, could the tournament be wrapped up in any better way than another instalment of Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer? With 26 Major titles between them, two of the best players in the history of the sport will lock horns in an attempt to further cement their legacy in the sport on the biggest stage of them all in New York.

Like the women's final last night, don't expect this showdown to get underway until 20 minutes past the hour. The US Open organisers will have all the rigmarole of presentations and national anthems to get through before the two combatants make their way onto Arthur Ashe Stadium.

That's if we get underway on time at all...

Uh-oh. pic.twitter.com/RBrN3IptDI

— DavidLaw (@DavidLawTennis) September 13, 2015

I was just about to tell you that the weather had been much better than previously forecast, but it's doesn't look too promising as far as the next hour is concerned. The rain has started to fall in New York and we are going to have a delayed start.

On the bright side, at least this rain has come now rather than in half an hour's time after all of the warm-up and preparation, etc. Nevertheless, we are going to hold fire with the rest of our coverage for now but we will be back as soon as we have a start time. See you soon!

After three hours of rain delays, we are finally back with you! Novak and Roger are due to walk onto Arthur Ashe at 12.10am, BST. About time, too!

Apparently, we are not due any more rain - we can only keep our fingers crossed - but it's worth noting that the initial delay was only expected to be an hour long. That said, let's stay positive! The two players are through their pre-match interviews and on their way down the tunnel...

What a reception! Roger is out first to a spine-tingling reaction and so is Novak, albeit a bit quieter in terms of decibel levels. Federer has won the toss and he has elected to serve first.

HEAD TO HEAD! These two have enjoyed the most epic of rivalries and tonight's encounter is their 42nd meeting, with Federer edging it 21 to 20. In 2015, they have played on hard courts on three occasions, with their last contest in Cincinnati seeing Federer put on a serving masterclass to breeze to the win. Will the same happen tonight? We are about to find out!

Federer is waiting and ready to go. Game on!

Federer opens up with a thudding ace down the middle before he moves to 30-15 with another sharp delivery. Djokovic levels things up with a forehand winner before Federer misses out on game point with a bad forehand error. The same occurs on the next point too and it's break point to the world number one. It goes begging, as does a second chance as Federer unloads down the line. Djokovic nets a return as he squanders a third opening and Federer eventually comes through with a hold. That game took seven minutes...

Wow. Djokovic holds to love in about a minute. That's all there is to say about that.

BREAK! Many thought that it would be Federer who would react best to the extended delay but Djokovic has started this match ridiculously sharp. At 0-30, he hammers Federer into submission for three break points. The Swiss saves the first two, but after a lengthy exchange on the third, it's Federer who blinks first and Djokovic lands the first blow.

That's just the third time that Federer has been broken all tournament. Like I say, Djokovic looks sharp.

BREAK! Djokovic drops the opening point of his second service game, and on the second, he hits the deck when losing his footing on the way to the net. It's nasty fall and he has grazed his arm and cut the top of his hand. Ouch. He then falls three break points behind, and although he saves the first, he nets a tame backhand on the second and we are back all square.

Federer holds to love without needing to get into a rally and it's his turn to look in control. The trainer is on to tend to Djokovic's arm. In all fairness, it's a pretty bad graze to his right forearm.

Djokovic eases into a 30-0 lead, but Federer halves the deficit with a crushing backhand down the line. The world number one seals the hold to 15 with his first ace of the night. That arm is still firing on all cylinders.

BREAK! Federer coasts into a 30-0 advantage but a couple of mistakes, including a simple volley, gives Djokovic 30-30. That becomes break point when Federer hits the tape with a backhand, and it's taken with a terrific backhand down the line.

After the first two points are shared, Federer just misses the baseline with a backhand, but he reaches break point thanks to a double fault and a scandalous forehand mistake from Djokovic. It's so bad. He regains his composure, though, and converting a challenging smash helps secure the hold.

At 30-15, Federer looks well on his way to a comfortable hold but a Djokovic passing shot and an error from the Swiss gift his opponent a set point. Djokovic gets into the next rally but he is furious with himself after netting a backhand. Federer takes the next two points and the Serbian must serve for the set.

SET! Djokovic takes the opening two points after wayward efforts from his opponent, before a first-serve return is sent over the baseline. It's three set points to the world number one and the first is taken after a powerful forehand is returned into the net by Federer. First blood to Djokovic.

The key to Federer getting back into this match is avoiding exchanges that advance past 10 shots, and that's something that happened too much in the opener. Despite losing a lengthy rally, he reaches 40-30 but a double fault gives Djokovic deuce. Federer gets back on the front foot, though, executing a one-two off his first serve to get the job done.

We are yet to see the Federer "SABR" on a second serve...until now. He executes it perfectly too to land a backhand on the line and a passing shot extends his advantage to 0-30. The Swiss creates three break points, but back comes Djokovic, who rises to the occasion in front of what is fast becoming a pro-Federer crowd. After several deuces, the Serbian holds.

This feels like a different Federer in this set. He races through to a love hold with four super first serves. Pressure back on Novak.

Federer is making his way to the net with increasing regularity but Djokovic is starting to pick his approaches. The world number one holds to 15 and this is hotting up, even if conditions in New York are pretty cool.

It's another hold to love for the Swiss. He has now won the last 10 points behind his own delivery. A message is being sent to his opponent.

So far, you have to credit Djokovic. Serving second in any match is difficult but in a final, even more testing. He's doing well to his varying up his game to keep Federer guessing to some extent and he comes through to 15. They are flying through the games right now.

Guess what? Another Federer service game and another hold to love. Djokovic had his chance to break the streak when advancing into the net for a pretty makable volley but it clipped the top of the net and stay his side of the court.

Some baffoon calls out during Djokovic's service toss but the Djokovic ignores sending his first serve miles long by pressuring Federer into the mistake on his second. The world number one powers to a hold to love and he looks incredibly focused right now.

Federer's run of consecutive points on serve comes to an end when he throws in a double fault, but he responds with an ace. Class. Djokovic's reply is outstanding, connecting with a return before overpowering his opponent with his forehand. It's 30-30, but Federer is all over a smash to reach game point. It's taken with a serve out wide and Djokovic must serve to remain in this second set.

Djokovic shows incredible relfexes at the net to 15-0 before Federer miscues a forehand when on the attack. That was a chance. However, the world number one twice finds the net and we have 30-30 - Federer is two points from the set. It should be one but Federer sends a smash right onto the racquet of Djokovic who fires straight back at the Swiss. Djokovic is PUMPED! The Serbian misses out but he gets a second chance with a superb forehand that catches the line. Federer isn't finished though, and a missed forehand from Djokovic gives Federer a set point. Djokovic comes back to create a game point but Federer gets a second chance for the set with a backhand down the line. He misses an absolute sitter of a forehand though, and is made to pay the price. After a 14-minute game, Djokovic holds. How huge could that be?

After the opening two points are shared, Federer finds the net with an attempted backhand down the line. He recovers with two timely first serves to reach game point, before another out wide forces Djokovic to go wide.

SET! Djokovic opens with a poor backhand into the net but he applies the pressure on the next point to move level at 15-15. The crowd are shouting for Roger. They get what they want when Djokovic goes long twice in succession and the Swiss has two more set points. Djokovic is a rock on the first and the point ends with Federer framing a forehand, but the second seed strikes with a stunning backhand into the corner that Djokovic can only send wide. Arthur Ashe Stadium ERUPTS!

Federer is very much in the ascendancy right now and it's going to be interesting to see how Djokovic reacts. Federer secures a hold to 15 and this is a big service game coming up for the world number one.

After the opening two shots are shared, Federer produces another SABR and it pays off as Djokovic blazes a backhand long. A second SABR in succession for Federer but despite gaining control of the rally, he nets a volley. He does the same to hand Djokovic a game point, which is taken with a forehand winner from inside the court.

BREAK! After another aggressive winner, Federer looks on course for the easy hold but a double fault and wayward backhand allows Djokovic to get back to deuce. That becomes break point thanks to a superb deep return from the Serbian, and he strikes when Federer directs a forehand into the tramlines. Bad error.

BREAK! It's Djokovic's turn to concede a double fault, before a miscued forehand gives Federer 15-30. Djokovic responds with a big first serve and a backhand winner down the line for game point, but he misses out, and for a second time, before Federer roars back to earn a break-back point. It's taken when Djokovic nets a backhand from the baseline. This could be a long one, folks.

One winner and two unreturned first serves sees Federer reach 40-0 before the game is rounded off with an ace. Momentum shift.

Djokovic falls to 0-30 after a SABR forces the double fault, but he gets back to 30-30 with two good first serves. He makes it four points in a row and that's an excellent hold from the position he was in.

Another routine hold for Federer, who is continuing to crush his shots off the ground. A love hold is completed with a serve out wide. You'd have to say he looks the favourite for this match.

Some heavy-hitting from Djokovic takes him to 40-0, but Federer is all over a second-serve return to remain competitive. Djokovic hooks a forehand long to make things even more interesting before deuce is reached when Djokovic nets. What is going on? He hooks a backhand wide of the line to hand Federer a break point, but the Swiss misses out when he nets a forehand. Djokovic saves another with some herculean play on the baseline and it eventually helps him to a crucial hold.

BREAK! A seventh ace of the contest takes Federer to two game points, but Djokovic produces some of the most inspired play that you have ever seen to get back to deuce, chasing down a drive volley to catch Federer out on the other side of the court. A break point is created by a a sharp second-serve return and Djokovic gives himself the chance to serve for the set when Federer misses with a backhand. Big few minutes in this tennis match coming up.

SET! Federer nails an outrageous backhand winner for 0-15 before a 15-30 is brought up when Djokovic nets. A deep forehand from Federer then forces another mistake from his opponent and he has two chances to break back. Both are brilliantly saved by Djokovic because he gets a set point when Federer slices tamely into the net. Federer gets a return back into play but it's not enough as Djokovic forces a mistake on the next point.

BREAK! Federer opens with a double fault but he is back at 15-15 when Djokovic nets. The Swiss is looking to go on the attack but he blazes a forehand wide of the mark, although he saves himself with an authoritative point. Djokovic outlasts Federer in the next rally to bring up a break point, but it's a nerveless one-two from the second seed. Djokovic gets another chance when Federer nets and this time, he takes it when the Swiss does the same on the next point.

Federer moves to 0-15 with a stunning return winner, and after losing the next two points, he swarms the net to force a mistake out of his opponent. Djokovic comes through, though, after Federer just misses with a backhand down the line. The Swiss needs a reponse in this next game.

A racquet-jamming return from Djokovic is the highlight of the game, but Federer holds comfortably enough to 15.

Djokovic reaches 30-0 with a forehand winner down the line but a double fault - his fifth of the match - sees Federer halve the deficit. However, a huge backhand winner of his own seals the hold and he is three away from a second US Open title.

I've lost track of the number of easy service games that Federer has produced in this final. His ninth ace begins the game and his 10th ace concludes it.

At 15-15, a net cord allows Federer to convert a routine forehand into the corner, but Djokovic withstands more pressure from his opponent to wrong-foot him at the net. High quality point. It's break point to Federer when Djokovic hooks a backhand wide, but he misses a forehand into the corner. The clock ticks past three hours as Federer misses a second-serve return before an ace - just his second - seals the game for Djokovic. Two holds to go...

BREAK! An ace and unreturned first serve sees Federer move to 30-0, but Djokovic connects with a return to halve the deficit before Federer inexplicitly goes for too much with a forehand. The game advances to deuce, before Djokovic has a break point when Federer nets. Big moment here, and it's Djokovic who rises to the occasion with a stunning forehand return. He has the double break and this match might be as good as done.

BREAK! Federer floats a backhand long to fall 15-0 behind, but Djokovic misses with a forehand down the line to keep him in it. The SABR helps Federer smash his way to 15-30, and it's two break points with a breathtaking cross-court backhand into the corner. Djokovic produces an ace to the save the first, but a Federer drop volley sees him convert the second. Game on!

At 15-15, Federer lands a first serve to force the mistake before a ruthless drive volley creates two game points. Djokovic stays in the game with a return fired back at his opponent, but a delightful passing shot from Federer secures the hold. Now then, what will the next game bring?

MATCH! Djokovic opens the game with a one-two off his serve. He needed that. However, he misses with a backhand for 15-15, before Federer catches the baseline with a volley. Federer then lands a backhand winner cross-court for two break points. This is insane. Djokovic saves the first with a quite incredible second serve, before a massive first serve out wide gets him to deuce. However, Federer unloads off his backhand wing to create a third chance, but Djokovic responds again to force Federer to slice long. Unreal effort from both men. It's championship point to Djokovic after a solid first serve. Can he take it? HE CAN! Federer sends a return long and Novak Djokovic is the champion!

We may have had to wait three hours for this match to get start, but boy, what a match. Djokovic may have faced 23 break points, saving 19 of them, and had the crowd against him all match but the world number one moves to 10 Grand Slam titles with one of the performances of his career. Commiserations to Federer but in the third and fourth sets, too many mistakes came from his racquet.

That will be all from Sports Mole coverage of this match but we hope you can stick around for the reaction that will follow. Thanks for joining us and it is goodbye for now.