Image source, Reuters

Williams oozing confidence. Swinging and a-grinning. The American chucks in an ace to conclude a razor-sharp hold to love.

Jill Craybas
Former WTA Tour professional on BBC Radio 5 live sports extra

"You have this sense Williams is now finding her groove a little bit."

Image source, Getty Images

Hollywood A-listers have again turned up at Flushing Meadows to watch the tennis. Clearly, no films have been made in LA over the last few days. Desperate Housewives star Eva Longoria is the latest to be caught by the snappers. Wozniacki not desperate yet, but she is struggling to match the power of the Williams groundstrokes.

At 15-30, Wozniacki is in choppy waters... and, oh my word, the tennis gods shine on the defending champion as the top seed's forehand clips the line and falls gently on to Wozniacki's side of the court. Two break points, just the one needed. Williams forcing Wozniacki to backpedal and it is no surprise when the Dane fails to negotiate the barrier.

Abdul Kabir:, external "It's really amazing that @serenawilliams can still play at this level at this stage of her career."

Russell Fuller
BBC tennis correspondent at Flushing Meadows

"It was far from one of the best sets we have seen at this US Open but it remains a crucial one for Serena Williams."

Image source, Reuters

Stylish from Williams, unleashing a boomer to bring up two set points. The pair embark on another baseline slug-fest... trainers screeching from tramline to tramline, before Williams decides to end the entertaining tussle by stepping in and drilling a forehand winner down the line. Merciless.

Image source, Getty Images

Williams has yet to lose a set in this tournament and is unlikely to so in this match if Wozniacki continues to perform so passively. A brilliant return from Williams on the opening point, replays showing it tickled the line by the width of an aphid's waistline (not sure if aphids have waistlines... I'll just go with it).

From 30-15 to 30-30 - another double fault from Wozniacki giving her opponent a sniff. Errors dribbling from Wozniacki's racquet - drip, drip, drip - into the tape once, into the tape again - Break point Williams. But Wozniacki fights back from the brink, the Dane has grit for guts, and the Ashe crowd warmly applaud as Wozniacki wraps up an iffy hold.

Alex Haworth:, external "Wozniacki is going to have to hold her serve a few times if she wants to stand a chance in this final."

Image source, Getty Images

Williams attempting to overpower Wozniacki from the baseline, the Dane holding on... holding on... until she balloons a forehand to present Williams with a 40-15 lead. Wozniacki opting for power rather than precision again, perhaps illustrating the ferocity of Williams's shots, and, this time, a game goes to script. A hold of serve!

Matt McGladrigan:, external "5 games, 4 breaks, error after error. Horrific start to the women's final."

First blow to Wozniacki, but on the next point Williams creeps closer to the net, pushing her friend and rival further and further towards the back of the court with frightening ferocity. From 15-15 to break point Williams as Wozniacki fails to negotiate the barrier. The Dane wobbling like a blancmange, which is apt considering her outfit, and slips up again, netting a forehand from the baseline. Surely Williams will hold on from here?

Jill Craybas
Former WTA Tour professional on BBC Radio 5 live sports extra

Image source, AFP

"There have been a lot of errors from both players, both are looking a bit tentative and neither of them are moving their feet very well, which is a sign of nerves."

Jeff Tarango
Former professional tennis player on BBC Radio 5 live

"I feel like Serena is feeling those nerves about becoming one of the greatest and Wozniacki seems to be struggling to adjust to the environment of being in a final. It's like Serena is playing on roller-skates, she is never really getting set up for her shots."

Piers Newbery
BBC Sport at Flushing Meadows

"'Go Caroline!' 'Go Serena!' 'Go ladies!' They're not quite up to speed yet but it's early days. It's not a capacity crowd and there are a sprinkling of blue seats visible on the top tier among the sea of orange caps handed out by a sponsor. The conditions are mercifully cool compared to previous days but the ever-present breeze is causing both women a few problems."

The pair embark on a baseline brawl, but Wozniacki refuses to be bullied and surprisingly comes out on top. 0-30. Trouble for Williams? Oh, yes. Lots of trouble. Big trouble. Double fault from Williams. A collective New York gasp. Three break points Wozniacki. The top seed saves one, but double faults on the next point and it's a sloppy opening from both players on the grand stage.

Jill Craybas
Former WTA Tour professional on BBC Radio 5 live

"Caroline seems too frustrated to me. She needs to get focused and play more balls into the court - she is giving away too many free points. It will be down to nerves. She has had a different presence at this tournament but she looks slower here."

Image source, Ao

Williams the more aggressive of the two finalists, frequently advancing towards the tape to attack the Wozniacki serve and it earns her a 0-30 lead. The backhand is the defending champion's enemy, however, and Wozniacki reins her in to 30-30. An ace down the 'T' - Wozniacki's first ace and her first winner of the match - and the crowd heartily cheer.

A backhand winner into the Wozniacki forehand corner takes us to deuce and the American goes on to collect a break point - her fifth of the match. The scrambling Wozniacki forces the game back to deuce. Advantage. Deuce. Williams dominates the 10th seed's second serve. A second break point - and Wozniacki gets caught in a trap and there's no going back, netting from the middle of the court.

Jeff Tarango
Former professional tennis player on BBC Radio 5 live

Image source, Reuters

"Whoever makes the least unforced errors is probably going to win this match. Serena tends to make more winners but Wozniacki with her counter-punching ability can hit winners in this match. It might surprise Serena how many."

Williams serving with aplomb, but perhaps needs to readjust her radar on the groundstrokes as she drills a backhand into the tramlines and allows Wozniacki back into the game at 30-30. Oh, scrap that, major readjustments required. A chance for Wozniacki! Break point! No need for a second invitation for the Dane. Williams screws a backhand into the tramlines and we're back on serve.

Jill Craybas
Former WTA Tour professional on BBC Radio 5 live

"It's been a tough emotional situation Caroline's been going through (following the breaking off of her engagement to Rory McIlroy) and I think she has used tennis as an outlet to stay focused on her career. It's always good to stay busy when you have had that bit of emotional turmoil in life."