BBC Sporttennis

Rainfall marks the start of men's final day but the covers eventually come off and Roger Federer v Rafael Nadal is almost upon us

Federer and Nadal, world number one and two respectively, meet for the 18th time in all competitions and the sixth time in Grand Slams

Both players start positively but Nadal strikes first, breaking reigning champion Federer to take a 2-1 lead in the first set

Nadal, who has lost to Federer in each of the last two Wimbledon finals, faces break point at 2-1 but holds his nerve to come through

Two break points come and go for Federer, as do two set points for Nadal, before the Swiss nets a backhand to concede the first set 6-4

For the first time against Federer at Wimbledon, Nadal takes the first set and his reaction shows exactly what that means to him

Federer comes out aggressively and, after holding serve with ease, takes a 2-0 lead by converting his fourth break point of the match

Four-time French Open champion Nadal soon hits back, breaking Federer and then saving a break point to even things up

Dramatic scenes as the top seed falls 0-40 down at 4-4 and is wrong-footed by Nadal on the second break point

Federer battles his way to break point at 4-5 but he again nets a backhand to put Nadal in total control at two sets up

Just as he would have been looking to push on in the third set, Nadal twists awkwardly and injures the back of his right knee

Astonishingly, Federer wastes another four break points at 3-2 up before Nadal serves the game out and punches the air with delight

At 3-3, an enthralling game sees Nadal earn three break points but Federer serves majestically to save them all and take a 4-3 lead

Dark clouds cover the All England Club and, as soon as the rain starts to fall, the covers come on and the players head for the locker room

The rain delay allows Federer time to focus and he barely puts a foot wrong after the re-start, snapping up the third set on a tie-break

The end looks near when, at 5-4 in the fourth, Nadal goes to 0-30 up on the Federer serve but the top seed battles through admirably

The crowd are in raptures as a tie-break sees Nadal lose a 5-2 lead and then two championship points, allowing Federer to prevail 10-8

In near darkness and after four hours and 48 minutes, Nadal takes his fourth match point and is the new Wimbledon champion

Federer is a losing Wimbledon finalist for the first time, his hopes of a record sixth consecutive title ended by the Spaniard

Nadal's 6-4 6-4 6-7 (3-7) 6-7 (8-10) 9-7 victory will go down as one of the finest in Grand Slam history