I didn’t forget about you guys. It’s 12:15 right now (central time, of course) and the final begins in an hour and fifteen minutes.

The matchup pits the #1 ranked player in the world, Rafa Nadal, and for my money the greatest player ever, Roger Federer. Nadal has gotten the best of Federer in grand slams, although it should be noted that many of those came in the French. Federer hasn’t lost a hardcourt final, and if he wins tonight he will tie Pete Sampras’s record for career slams.

For the record, my prediction tonight is Federer in 4 sets: 6-4, 6-4, 3-6, 7-5

See you in an hour.

2:22 AM: Just a couple pre-match notes: I watched Slumdog Millionaire tonight for the first time, and I have to say I loved it. If that’s not the best picture I boycott movies. Then again I haven’t seen Frost/Nixon yet so I’ll reserve judgment until then.

And on a selfish note: the greatest college hockey blog on the internet (actually it’s like #3 according to BallHype) has moved. Bookmark http://thecollegehockeyblog.weebly.com/ Do it! Do it now! (schwarzenegger’d)

2:27: Ravi Ubha is doing “instant analysis” over at ESPN.com. No word on whether or not Chris Mortensen has to confirm everything he types.

2:39: As the players are being introduced, some notes: Federer has won 57 career singles titles, and won a total of $44,644,857 in prize money. Nadal has won 31 titles and $20,814,797 in prize money.

2:43: More stuff: 72.6% of Beat The Streak players have Roger Federer winning. Dick Enberg and Patrick McEnroe are on the call for the final. I couldn’t pick two better guys.

2:53: Federer’s backhand looks terrible. Two break points for Nadal.

2:54: If Roger does this all night I’m going to be pissed. Giving Nadal an early break.

2:56: Wow, what a point. Federer adjusts better than anyone in tennis. When he’s on he is untouchable. But if he’s not, Nadal could smoke him.

3:01: We’re at deuce #3 and this game is going largely Federer’s way. He’s starting to find the range on his forehand, and he’s running Nadal all over the court, which is a great sign given his last match

3:05: Wow what a game. Federer breaks right back. This is going to be a classic, folks. While I’m here I’d like to welcome in brand new commenters BaconExplosion, aka molemaninthemorning (still can’t believe you ate that) and thecassino.

3:07: Federer’s girlfriend has lost a little weight. She’s lookin good. Better than Nadal’s girl I’d have to say.

3:08: Routine hold for Federer, the first of the match. We’re on serve as we go to commercial. I have to go get a Sam Adams.

3:09: Brain stem brain stem brain stem brain stem brain stem brain stem. Only CRM gets this.

3:12: Nadal with a routine hold. And welcome to ReaderM. See what happens, folks? Stop by and I give you a shoutout. I’m so giving. And tired.

3:15: ReaderM and CRM echo my sentiments exactly. I love tennis, especially grand slam tennis. I was out at my lake cabin last year for the Wimbledon final and I remember checking in every 20 minutes or so to see if the match was still in a rain delay or back on. I think I missed about 4 points of that match. Also if anyone has any good music I should listen to feel free to advise me in the comments.

3:17: Federer’s serve looked a little shaky in that game, but he managed to hold. If you’re looking for another liveblog, The Arena has one going on. He’s fancy and uses coveritlive. Smarty pants

3:20: I am absolutely speechless at that lobshot from Federer. Wow.

3:24: Who is smarter than Roger Federer? A laser forehand gives him a commanding 4-2 lead

3:27: Nadal breaks right back, and we could be headed to a tiebreak.

3:34: I love reading The Big Leed’s twitter. Best stuff ever. Federer breaks out the serve in this game with a couple of aces. Hey signing day is Wednesday! Can’t wait. Mark Mangino has his best class yet, including the kid they’re calling the next Todd Reesing.

3:32: Nadal makes it even at 4-4. Federer did play fairly well, however. Wow I’m tired. I need to get that 5 hour energy.

3:36: For some reason Wordpress is being a bit uppity. Federer utilized his serve well in that game, acing Nadal twice. Signing day Wednesday according to ESPN. Mark Mangino supposedly has his best class yet, including the player they’re calling the replacement for Todd Reesing.

3:37: Roger Federer makes me want to go play tennis.

3:40: And we’re knotted at 5 a piece. Nadal moved his serve around a bit in that last game, not letting Federer guess. So every like 5th person I’ve looked at on Facebook tonight is either engaged or has a kid. And they’re all in the 19-21 range. WTF.

3:43: Uh-oh. 15-40 Nadal and he has what basically has to be considered 2 set points.

3:44: And there it is, 6-5 Nadal.

3:47: This first set is more important for Nadal than Federer, seeing as he just played a 5 hour match. And it’s a good thing for him that he has two set points.

3:50: Rafa Nadal takes set #1, but Federer shouldn’t be too discouraged. That set was almost exactly as long as the entire final was yesterday.

3:55: An overlooked aspect of this match is the mental fatigue factor. I think Nadal will be ok physically, but the matches between these two are such chess matches Nadal could lose it a bit. Federer comes back from 0-30 to make it 1-0 in the second set.

4:00: Nadal with a great backhand winner to take the second game. These long games are advantageous to Federer, as I keep saying, but at some point he has to break Nadal.

4:05: We’re having some technical difficulties. Hopefully switching from Chrome to Firefox will do the trick.

4:06: I think I just woke up everyone on my floor after that point. The overhead cam is a great view. Just 6 or 7 ridiculous shots after another.

4:09: Federer didn’t look too confident in that challenge but he was correct, bringint it back to deuce.

4:10: Excuse me, that made it advantage Nadal, and he won the next point, knotting the set at 2-2

4:12: Here’s an interesting one for you: When he posts on MLJ, the link on CRM’s name goes to TBL, but when he posts on TBL it goes to MLJ. Weird. Anyways back to the tennis, it feels like Nadal has Federer on the ropes a little bit here, even though it’s 30-30

4:14: As I say that, Nadal breaks to make it 4-2. It could be slipping away from Federer earlier than expected.

4:18: 30-40 and the door is open a bit, let’s see if Federer can climb on through. And I almost just passed out on my keyboard.

4:19: Federer does climb through as he breaks back to make it 3-3, yelling a bit as he does so.

4:22: Commercial! Sam Adams time.

4:26: And lookie lookie folks. It’s 15-40 and Federer can go up 5-3

4:29: I thought that serve was out, but no matter for Federer as he turns an inside out forehand for a break point.

4:29: Nadal with an ace to get it back to deuce.

4:34: This is Federers 4 billionth (approximately) break point of this game. Let’s see if he can get one.

4:35: Nadal into the net and Federer can serve for the second set. Really, we’re still only in the second set?

4:37: Nadal is playing amazing right now, but proving my point while he does so: that when Federer is on his game, no one ever can touch him.

4:38: Federer takes set #2. I’d also like to mention that today Texas’s AJ Abrams broke the Big 12 record for three pointers made in a career, which previously was held by Jeff Boschee, who is a North Dakota native, former Jayhawk, and the reason I became a Kansas fan.

4:44: I must be really tired, because at least 10 times now I’ve thought that it’s almost 5 am in Australia as well and I’m wondering why the hell they’re playing tennis so early.

4:46: Nadal always takes awhile at the changeovers, but it seems like it is taking him even longer now. And welcome to AndreinFL. Perhaps it’s Andre Agassi.

4:51: And we’ve surpassed the two hour mark. Seriously it feels like it’s been about 6 hours to me.

4:53: I was just about ready to say that Nadal’s two-handed backhand has been his best shot tonight, but as I was typing, Nadal shanks one out of bounds. I wish I knew more about tennis so I could fully understand the cat and mouse going on between these two.

4:55: Who is better than Dick Enberg? The man just has a feel for calling a big sporting event. Nadal holds, but looked tired doing so. The pendulum has to be about 75-80% in Federer’s favor right now.

5:00: And we’ve hit the 5 oclock mark with one of the most interesting points of the match. Federer saved a couple smashes from Nadal but it wasn’t enough. After two easy points from Federer he misses a fairly easy volley and it’s 30-30.

5:02: Federer wins the game as he guesses right on the Nadal passing shot. Federer gets a new racket and I may be pulling an all-nighter. Supposedly at 5:30 coverage is supposed to switch over to the Tennis Channel, which I don’t have, but hopefully it’s on ESPN360.com as well, which I do have.

5:05: 3-2 Nadal in what was a pretty damn good game. Nadal hit a smash right at Federer but he hit it right into the net. I just tried cracking my toe and I think I broke it. The things you do at 5 AM.

5:07: Dick Enberg drops a little nugget that Nadal sought out the trainer during the changeover. He must be hurting. If Federer holds here and then breaks he could be in business.

5:08: I speak Spanish and I still can’t understand what Nadal says. Federer’s 1st serve percentage is just 45% for the match, and yet he’s right in it. That’s how amazing he is.

5:11: Sign me up for Federer-Nadal for all four grand slams this year. It’s gotten to the point where awesome points don’t even get me to bat an eyelash they’re so commonplace. But there have been a few extraordinary ones in this match.

5:18: A couple thoughts: Why would Nadal be the one who doesn’t get the extra day of rest when he’s the higher seed? And how the hell can the US Open get away with playing the final the day after the semis? The players must be half-dead.

5:20: We’re at 4 games all in the 3rd set. Patrick McEnroe says it best: Federer is starting to take command and Nadal is making uncharacteristically bad errors.

5:22: Three break points for Federer. Everytime I’ve said something like this I’ve been wrong, but could we be seeing the beginning of the end?

5:25: Nadal saves three break points, proving once again that I am an idiot.

5:26: What a sick point. Both players running all over, Federer with the backwards lob, and Nadal hits one into the net to give Federer a break chance. Then Nadal serves up an ace to get it back to advantage.

5:28: Nadal saves a 0-40 game, but it is evident that he is hurting like crazy.

5:30: I need some breakfast. Hello, muffin.

5:32: Federer plays a couple trick shots with a fake drop shot, and swings a serve out wide to get it to 5-5.

5:33: Nadal is not moving well and is going to have to take some chances and go for some early winners.

5:35: Double break for Federer. I’m not saying anything this time.

5:36: Ball called long, Federer will challenge. I thought it looked good……but it wasn’t. Deuce

5:37: Now Nadal is the one having trouble on the first serve, and Federer is the one who can’t capitalize.

5:38: I echo thecassino. My bladder feels like it’s going to explode. I haven’t peed since midnight and I’ve had about 5 Sam Adams (Adamses?) Wow what a passing shot from Federer and we’re at deuce.

5:40: Nadal saves to make it 6-5. Commercial! Bathroom!

5:44: That’s the 3rd point tonight that has been millimeters away from being in.

5:48: Roger Federer saves a set point and we’ll go to a tiebreak. How else would we want to end this set?

5:49: Nadal yanks a forehand wide. 1-0 Federer.

5:49: Federer loses his mini-break, shanking a forehand. 1-1

5:50: Federer swings a serve wide, and plays the serve and volley for a winner. 2-1 Federer.

5:51: Nadal is taking forever to serve. After pounding Federer into the corner he coaxes him into hitting one into the net. 2-2.

5:51: And we’ve passed the three hour mark. Federer hits one out, but will challenge. Looks long to me….and it was. 3-2 Nadal.

5:52: Federer is losing his serve again, but he gets a decent enough second serve in, allowing him to control the point and get a volley for the win. 3-3.

5:53: Terrible second serve leads to a terrible forehand. Minibreak for Nadal at 4-3.

5:54: 5-3 Nadal as Federer’s back is against the wall.

5:55: Nadal must have something left in the tank after all, as he somehow gets to that passing shot by Federer and he now has 3 set points.

5:56: 3rd set to Nadal. This is gonna go 5. Shit.

5:59: Nadal breaks a string on the first point in the 4th set.

6:00: And we’ve broken a personal record for me. I haven’t been awake at 6 am since my high school basketball days when we would have 6 am practices. I feel like going to get the early bird special at Denny’s.

6:05: Federer quickly takes a 2-0 lead in the 4th set over Nadal. That is huge for Roger.

6:08: Wow. Somehow Nadal got to a great forehand to get to a break point. And he breaks right back.

6:15: Holy shit. I can’t even describe that point. somehow Nadal jumped up to get a lob, and it’s back to deuce.

6:19: And Roger Federer drops a deuce on Nadal. AD Federer.

6:21: I think this one’s over, folks. Federer is losing it.

6:22: Wow. This just keeps getting better and better. Somehow Federer got to an impossible point, then Nadal did, then Federer did, then Nadal did. One of the best points I’ve ever seen.

6:23: Federer does it the easy way with an ace.

6:25: I’m running out of ways to describe these points. You can only say unbelievable so many times.

6:25: We’re at the 3.5 hour mark, and Federer saves the marathon game.

6:28: I just took an Advil. I have a headache from being so tired. Federer could really use a break here.

6:32: And Federer breaks to make it 4-2.

6:32: If I could go offtopic for a second, and it’s 6:30 in the morning so believe me I can, a couple friends and I were watching TV the other day and they were talking about Britney Spears and how she looked so terrible when she was at the VMAs that one year. I didn’t watch so I decided to Google it. My first thought was: really? you think this looks bad? I would be all kinds of excited to have that in the sack next to me.

6:34: Federer with an easy hold to get it to 5-3.

6:35: In what is fantastic news for Olympics fans like myself, American Lindsey Vonn is establishing herself as an early gold medal favorite in 2010.

6:36: Nadal easily holds, but Federer seemed largely uninterested in the game, as he can serve for the set.

6:41: And there it is. Federer wins the 4th set. Of course we had to go to a 5th set. Quite frankly I feel dumb for not predicting that.

6:41: While we’re at it, I feel dumb for not just setting my alarm for 6:00 or gambling and setting it for 6:30. It’s been 3 hours and 50 minutes, and we have a half hour or so to go.

6:46: There have already been two challenges in the first game of the set, with Federer going 1-1. Nadal holds at 15.

6:50: Federer holds as well, although it is a little less routine. Random thought: How come men’s college lacrosse teams have to wear full helmets, but women’s teams can get away with wearing just those funny looking eye shields?

6:52: And we’re at the 4 hour mark as Nadal has a love game. Hey, no commercials in the final set, thanks Dick Enberg.

6:53: I think I’m now sterile from having my laptop on my lap for the past 4 hours.

6:56: Federer is really going for some points here when he probably shouldn’t be. Then again, who am I to question Roger Federer. Ouch, Fderer with his 5th double fault of the match.

6:57: Just so everyone is clear, no 5th set tiebreaker in the Aussie Open, so someone is going to have to break someone else, and there it is. Nadal breaks Federer to get to 3-1. Danger time for Federer.

7:00: I guess I just don’t understand how if you have all the talent that Roger Federer does you can play like this. Nadal isn’t winning this match at all, Federer is simply handing it over to him.

7:02: Nadal has a couple hiccups but still manages to win the game. Federer needs a quick hold and then a break.

7:05: Step 1, complete. Love game for Federer.

7:07: Buuut Nadal holds at love right back.

7:11: Federer can’t get a serve in. This is getting embarassing.

7:13: Gutsy gutsy couple of saves by Federer. Lots of work left to be done.

7:14: A fan called a Federer shot out when it clearly wasn’t. I don’t mean to be rude, but: shut the fuck up.

7:14: And there it is, Nadal takes the title. he certainly outplayed Federer, but I hope no one talks about Nadal going out there and earning it, because Federer handed him that title, plain and simple.

Alright folks, that’s it for me. I want to sincerely thank all of you who read and commented, because without all the comments I probably would have been done by about the 3rd set. Hopefully you’ll stop by Major League Jerk every now and again, especially once baseball season starts up. Good morning/night.

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