Live Commentary: John Isner vs. Rafael Nadal - as it happened

Hello, and welcome to Sports Mole's coverage of the Cincinnati Masters final between John Isner and Rafael Nadal.

So here we are for what is the final match for both players ahead of their respective US Open campaigns. Nadal is the overwhelming favourite in Cincinnati, but with Isner's thunderous serves, who knows...

Isner is playing in just his second Masters series final, whereas Nadal is playing in...well, he has played in more than two, that's for sure. He has the big-game experience that Isner lacks, but the tall American has already seen off the likes of Novak Djokovic and Juan Martin del Potro this week.

Nadal hasn't look too shabby either. He dominated the field in Montreal last week, and he has looked equally impressive in Ohio, most notably coming for a set behind to beat Roger Federer in the quarter-finals.

The two players are ready to get going. It will be Isner to serve first.

Nadal opens up with a glorious passing shot, but Isner responds with two bludgeoning aces. I suspect we will see a few more of those today. He concludes the game with a third and he takes an early advantage.

Isner looks comfortable in competing with Nadal from the baseline on the opening couple of points, which are shared. Nadal seizes the initiative, however, and two ruthless forehands earn him the game.

That's stunning from the 6ft 10in American, who drives a flat forehand shooting past Nadal. He makes an error on the following point, but more huge serving from Isner sees him retake the lead.

Isner rates as one of the worst returners in 2013, but he finds the middle of the racket to make it 15-15. The American is certainly looking more competitive than last week's finalist, Milos Raonic, but Nadal remains on the front foot to ensure that the opening four games have gone on serve.

A fourth ace from Isner sees him take the opening point, but a couple of mistakes creep into his game, and Nadal has 30-30. However, Isner replies brilliantly, taking the game with a remarkable half-volley at the net, and we remain on serve.

Nadal takes the opening two points with ease, before Isner floats the ball wide from the baseline. The Spaniard double-faults to keep his opponent in the game, before Isner goes aggressive in stepping into court to put away a forehand winner. However, Nadal closes out the game with a forehand of his own.

Nadal strikes early, but two more huge serves from Isner bring up 30-15. He looks to be easing to the game, before he sends an easy forehand into the net. He won't be denied, however, and a big serve down the centre keeps him in the ascendancy.

Super play from the world number 22, who caresses a topspin forehand past Nadal at the net, but two shocking backhands undo the hard work. He gets into the next point with some fine movement at the back of the court, but he dumps a shot wide to make the score 4-4. We are flying through these games in Cincinnati.

Isner is certainly going for his forehand when he is given the opportunity, and while it doesn't always come off, he needs to stay aggressive. He has 30-15, and he shows the delicate side of his game, drawing Nadal in with a drop-shot before sending a volley into the open court. However, after Isner goes long, Nadal plays a stunning slam-dunk shot from the back of the court when returning a smash from Isner. We have deuce for the first time in the match, but after a successful challenge and an ace, Isner comes through to force Nadal to serve to remain in the set.

Nadal has been impeccable behind his serve, not giving Isner any chance to gain a foothold. Three mistakes from the American take Nadal to 40-0, before he concludes the game with an ace.

Nadal plays a stunning first point, but Isner strikes back with a couple of powerful blows to regain the momentum. He then crushes a forehand from the baseline to bring up two game points, before repeating the feat from a slightly wider angle. Nadal must again serve to remain in the set, and force a tie-break.

Isner works a bit more loop on his forehand on the opening rally, and it pays off, drawing the mistake out of Nadal, and the Spaniard records his second double fault to give Isner 0-30. The left-hander replies in typically robust fashion, but the American has two set points after he follows up some fine defensive work with a crushing forehand. However, they are quickly wiped out by two efficient serves from Nadal. He then wrong-foots Isner to record a second-serve ace, and a fourth unreturnable serve means that he have an opening-set tie-break.

An ace hands Isner the early advantage, but Nadal replies with another serve out wide. The American miscues with a forehand, but a composed volley at the net keeps us on serve. That's brilliant from Isner, who sends the ball into the corner, but he slices a backhand into the tramlines, and we are at 3-3 at the change of ends.

Nadal looks pumped up, and after Isner goes long, the Spaniard secures the mini-break when the American goes wide. The world number 22 hits back with a one-two off his serve, before gaining the mini-break back when Nadal fires a forehand over the baseline. Crucial point coming up, which Nadal takes with a heavy topspin serve that wrong-foots Isner once again. Set point Nadal, but Isner rolls in a deep second-serve that Nadal can only loop long.

SET! Isner is battling hard for this set, and he brings up his third set point with a vicious forehand that Nadal can't answer, but he tamely sends the ball long. Nadal lets out a roar after Isner nets on the next point, but he has no reply to an ace out wide and we are at 8-8. Nadal gets the mini-break from Isner when he plays too tentatively with a forehand, and the set is the Spaniard's after Isner sends a return into the net.

That was a tough one to take for Isner. It could be hard to come back from that. He takes the opening point of the second set, but some of Nadal's serving has been brutal, and he takes four quick points to take the first game.

You feel that Isner must hold here to keep in this match, and he plays three marvelously efficient points to sweep to 40-0. He then serves up his ninth ace to quickly level proceedings in the second.

Nadal plays an equally impressive game to love to get back in front. It was as simple as that. Isner isn't going to break Nadal while he is in this form.

Both man have looked superb behind their serve over the past 10 minutes. There has been 12 straight points won by the server. Isner needs to keep this standard up on his serve to get to a second-set tie-break.

Nadal is commanding the space at the net like a predator, emphatically putting the ball away with a volley and a smash. However, the sequence of points won in a row on serve is broken at 14 when Nadal nets. That errors fails to deter the Spaniard, who seals the game when Isner can't return a forehand.

Nadal takes the first point, but he can only hook a forehand wide to allow Isner back into the game. He then makes two similar errors before Isner levels things up with a forehand winner.

Isner does well to get to 15-15 on Nadal's serve, but he can't take advantage, putting too much on a forehand that clears the baseline. However, he shows superb composure to rocket a winner past his opponent for 30-30. Time violation for Nadal, which seemed a bit harsh. Has it effected him? He clips the net with a forehand and Isner has break point. That's an unbelievable volley under pressure from Nadal, deftly flicking it over the net, and he repeats the feat on the next. Isner's chance comes and goes, as Nadal sends a heavy forehand down the line.

In all fairness to Isner, he hasn't wilted in this set when nerves could have perhaps gotten the better of him. He plays an exquisite drop-shot in moving to 40-15, and he seals game point with an ace.

There were encouraging signs for Isner on Nadal's serve during the last game, but normal service has resumed this time around, with an ace helping the left-hander to a love-service hold. Isner must serve to remain in the match.

Isner starts poorly, and it gets worse when the world number 22 sends the ball out at the net. Nadal is two points away from the title, but Isner responds with a fine serve down the middle. The American cannot afford to make a mistake here, and he records another forehand winner for 30-30. That's a super hold from Isner, who steps into court to put away back-to-back winners.

Nadal could have been slightly despondent after letting slip that small opportunity in the last, but he smoothly gets through a love-service hold in just over a minute to put the pressure back on his opponent.

The American looks confident in taking the first point, but a double fault lets Nadal back in. However, Isner allows Nadal to get nothing on two returns, letting him smash back-to-back forehand winners, and we are quickly into another tie-break.

Nadal takes the stuffing out of Isner on the opening point, and quickly seals the mini-break when the American nets. Isner gets on the board, but Nadal regains his two-point cushion when Isner can't return. That soon becomes a three-point advantage when Nadal flicks a drop-shot over the net. Must win point here for Isner, but he nets, and that, ladies and gentleman, could be that.

MATCH! Isner keeps in it, but Nadal is two serves away from the trophy. However, Nadal sends a backhand volley wide and Isner has a glimmer of an opportunity. The Spaniard serves up a short second-serve, but Isner drives it into the net and it's three championship points. Nadal seals it on the first though, with a stunning forehand passing shot.

That was a fine performance from the 27-year-old, who wins his first title in Cincinnati. He has the look of a revitalised man, who surely must warrant the favourite status for the upcoming US Open.

Nadal's display was all the more impressive given Isner's performance. The American matched his opponent blow-for-blow, but he just lacked that killer instinct in the two breakers.

That will be all from Sports Mole this evening. Thank you for joining us, and be sure to return for our coverage of the US Open, which begins on August 26. Goodbye for now.