John McEnerney:, external "Tough one to call, Serena to sneak it, Wozniacki will make a match of it though! Serena has too much big match experience but you never know."

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Should the alarm bells start ringing already? Wozniacki coughs up a double fault to gift Williams a 30-15 lead, but the Dane is off the hook as Williams overcooks a return. 30-30. Ah. Perhaps it's time to send up the SOS flares because Wozniacki double faults again - break point Williams.

Once again, Williams is off key on the return. Wozniacki breathes again, but for how long? Not very long at all, actually. A crazy return from Williams for a second break point and she ruthlessly makes the most of her opportunity, another dreamy forehand winner.

Jeff Tarango
Former professional tennis player on BBC Radio 5 live

"Wozniacki has got herself really fit, she has been working on the forehand. She was a lot younger five years ago when she broke on to the scene. Everything was happening so fast for her. I think it's taken her time to get bored of money and start loving tennis again. It will be a tall order but if this goes to three I'm going to lean towards Wozniacki."

Image source, Reuters

The warm-up is over so let's get this party started. First things first, however - outfit chat: Wozniacki in a pink and deep red dress, with cute pink matching trainers, and Williams is in her snow leopard attire.

Silence as Williams launches the first serve, Wozniacki handles it but eventually goes long. Big hitting from Williams, stepping in from the baseline and beating her opponent with a dumper-truck forehand. 30-15.

Williams nets a forehand... A lengthy rally ends in the 10th seed's favour - Williams ballooning a backhand wide - Break point Wozniacki. But, hey, hey, hey, Williams averts the danger thanks to crisp ace and proceeds to advantage with canny play at the net. A brutal combination from Williams - backhand into the corner followed by a thumping forehand - and the two-time defending champion seals the deal.

Jeff Tarango
Former professional tennis player on BBC Radio 5 live

Image source, Reuters

"I think Serena has been really nervous in her previous three Grand Slams because she has been on this precipice of time. It gets in the head that 'I'm really close to being one of the great tennis players of all time' and I think it's beaten her up a bit mentally. But she has found that synergy again for this event."

Jill Craybas
Former WTA Tour professional on BBC Radio 5 live

"Serena has looked so focused and motivated from the first match. Sometimes it takes her one or two matches to get going but she has been right at it from the very start here."

How many times have Williams and Wozniacki played each other? Nine, with the world number one winning eight of those meetings. The last two matches have been close encounters, however, with Wozniacki forcing tussles in Montreal and Cincinnati to three sets.

Image source, BBC Sport

"When she's on fire, she's hard to beat, but I have had two tough matches against her the last few weeks. I was really close," said Wozniacki.

"Hopefully for me that would be third time's the charm."

Image source, BBC Sport

Former world number one Wozniacki has spent longer on court than Williams, but she is physically stronger than in previous years with training for November's New York marathon benefiting her game.

Image source, BBC Sport

Williams has quickly rolled over her opponents at Flushing Meadows this year. The top seed has not dropped a set and served the most aces so far in the tournament (28).

BBC Radio 5 live

The players are at the net, getting ready for the coin toss which will be performed by Billie Jean King. Up goes the piece of silver... and Serena chooses to serve first. Don't forget, you can listen to live coverage of this evening's final by visiting the 'live coverage' tab at the top of this page or clicking on this link to the Radio 5 live website.

Piers Newbery
BBC Sport at Flushing Meadows

Image source, BBC Sport

"A huge roar echoes around the grounds and it occurs that the final might have started early, but it turns out that some people called 'the 49ers' have scored what is known as 'a touchdown'.

"It's the first Sunday of the American Football season and the women's final must await its slot in the schedule. There will be some pomp and a dash of ceremony before the first ball is struck in anger, and apparently fireworks, according to the New York Fire Department who are heading to the roof. Not sure whether to be worried or reassured."

"She just told me the truth," Wozniacki said of Williams's role in her recovery from the public break-up. "Honestly, she just told me that it's going to be hard and there's no skipping anything. But when you get to the other side, you're such a stronger person. Obviously, I didn't see that at the time. It had just happened. But now I do feel strong. I know myself much better."

And the Dane has enjoyed a fine run of form since her relationship with McIlroy ended, winning 19 of 22 matches since Wimbledon, securing her first title and, now, at Flushing Meadows, reaching her first Grand Slam final in five years.

"Serena is one of my best friends," Caroline Wozniacki said this summer. , external"For a long time. But especially in the last year." It was Williams who was planning Wozniacki's hen party before a phone call from golfer Rory McIlroy ended their engagement in May, and it was Williams who helped piece together a broken heart over the summer, offering advice and spending time with her friend in the Florida sunshine.

But if Williams is to secure her 18th Grand Slam title, her third successive US Open title, and become the second oldest Grand Slam winner in the Open Era, she will have to put her friend and confidant in a headlock, then wrap her hands around her throat and kill her best friend's dreams of winning a first Grand Slam title. Metaphorically speaking, of course...

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Fifteen years ago, a 17-year-old Serena Williams defeated top seed Martina Hingis to win the US Open. It was her first Grand Slam title. It would be the first of many - the first of 17 - and this evening the 32-year-old could move a trophy closer to becoming the greatest of the greats, joining Martina Navratilova and Chris Evert on 18 major titles, and just four majors from equalling Steffi Graf's haul of 22, with Margaret Court still topping the lot with 24 titles.

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Hello and welcome to live text commentary of the women's US Open final between 17-time Grand Slam champion Serena Williams and 10th seed Caroline Wozniacki. A sunny afternoon in the Big Apple, a soup bowl of a stadium - a perfect setting for history making.

Image source, BBC Sport

Do the greats ever tire of making history or is their thirst for trophies and glory never sated? Do they remain as ruthless in their old age as they were in their youth? Can they coldly turn friends into foes for the sake of that familiar euphoric rush?

Image source, BBC Sport