Kei Nishikori has tasted sweet victory in two of his previous five meetings with Roger Federer.

Could he be about to even up the record at three apiece?

We are into a decider...

Image source, Reuters

Kei Nishikori with a yippy pair of serves, coughs up the first point of the game.

Fortunately for him though, the Federer game is not firing on all cylinders either.

There is no devil to Federer's groundstrokes at the moment. An off backhand beats a wrong-footed Federer before the Swiss duffs one into the top of the net.

All square...

Nishikori to serve for the second set...

Image source, Getty Images

Tim Henman
Former British number one on BBC Two

He's hung in there and kept being very aggressive. He's really maintained his intensity and belief, and obviously doesn't want to start his Christmas holidays just yet.

Image source, EPA

Kei Nishikori reads a Roger Federer serve right off the page, swooping out wide to batter a return winner and bring up 30-30.

Oh I say! And not in a good way! Federer clumps a straightforward put-away wide under no pressure to hand over a break point in shocking style.

And another Federer error means that it is Nishikori in the pilot's seat. 

Roger Federer strolling around the court, looking a little quizzically at his strings.

They have not seen a lot of action in this game. A Nishikori ace thumps into the backboards as the Japanese holds to love and announces himself as the man with momentum in this second set.

Image source, Getty Images

Well, well, well.

Roger Federer's foot has come off the pedal. The Swiss overcooks a forehand long and has some 0-40 ugliness to dig himself out of.

One point back in the bag, but Nishikori nails his man with a walloped forehand return.

A squeal of delight from the Japanese and this match is alive, alive-oh.

Kei Nishikori is keeping Roger Federer honest, drilling a winner past a forehand waft to keep within touch in the second.

But he needs more than service holds. He needs to stage a rebellion and fast on the Federer serve.

Laura, external: All time favourite I have to say Andy Murray for the men and Justine Henin for the women. Roger and Amelie a very close second #bbctennis, external

Chris Goldsmith, external: All Time favourite tennis player, undoubtedly Andrew Castle #bbctennis, external

Peter Ly, external: Definitely Pete Sampras. I don't think I'll be watching tennis if it wasn't for Pistol Pete

Keep 'em coming via #bbctennis, external or the BBC Sport Facebook, external page.

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Kei Nishikori finishes the game bent over double and clutching his knees.

He is clutching to the coattails of a juggernaut at the moment.

This feels like a sprint finish for Federer who is sniffing an early return back to his London lair.

Andrew Castle
BBC Sport

He loves the game like nobody else; he plays the game like nobody else. His record is there for all to see.

And Roger Federer snaps the Nishikori serve as easily as if he was judo-chopping a twiglet.

0-40 as the Japanese serve is hunted down wherever it tries to hide.

A flourish of backhand sends another return streaking out of reach for a winner.

Serve is still king. Roger Federer wraps up another hold to love.

With it all quiet on the break-front, the camera pans around to the celebrity bleachers where the Barbarians rugby squad are taking in the action.

Bakkies Botha and Victor Matfield, who have spent many an afternoon locked together in the middle of the Springbok scrum, are sitting side by side.

James Shambrook: Stefan Edberg. So pleased when he became Roger's coach.

Ken Halstead: Tim Henman all the way. No one else's matches have even got close to the drama of Tim at Wimbledon.

Marian Hindley: Sorry, but I don’t love Federer. Rafa is my favourite all time player.

Nhlanhla Kambule: Apart from Federer it has to be Roger!

Well, that was a statement of intent.

Kei Nishikori is wrapping his racquet around the ball beautifully, thumping winners clean out of the sweet spot.

A hold to love and over to you Roger.

Image source, Reuters

Roger Federer's fifth ace of the match brings up 30-0 before a backhand volley, beautifully dampened with the wrist tendons, wins the next point.

Game bagged up for the loss of one point and an ominously on-point opening for Nishikori.

Roger Federer is the perennial winner of the year-end fans' favourite award.

Our question for today is, Federer apart, who is your favourite player of all time?

Let us know via #bbctennis, external or the BBC Sport Facebook, external page. Here's some of your thoughts, keep 'em coming...

Alice Stainer, external: Rafa for his commitment & charisma, Mac for his unpredictability, intelligence - & hair! (I was a child then ) #bbctennis, external#alltimefavourite, external

TennisNev , external@bbctennis, external 1 Federer 2 Becker 3 McEnroe 4 Hewitt 5 Djokovic Women 1 Graf 2 Evert 3 Venus 4 Navratilova 5 Clijsters #BBCTennis, external#Favs, external

We'll allow it, on this occasion, but we want your suggestions aside from Federer!

Kei Nishikori nosedives a backhand into the middle of the net to hand Federer a first set point.

And then twangs the tape off the same wing to hand over the opener.

Image source, Getty Images

Kei Nishikori is backed up to the brink at 0-30. It is going to take some talons and talent to keep a grip on the first set from here.

Roger Federer twice over-cooks by minimal amounts to allow the Japanese back to 30-30.

Oomph! Nishikori with a gutsy backhand slap down the line and that is pure gold for 40-30.

Touche! Federer with a deft tickle down the line for deuce.

On we go...

Roger Federer dusts off the drop-shot yet again and this time he wins the battle of wits with Kei Nishikori en route to a hold to love.

And then strips off to change his t-shirt and set a thousand optimistic smartphones snapping from the cheap seats.