John McEnerney: fancy SW 2 take this in 5, once he clicks he's pretty unplayable, ND isn't at his All Blackesque best. This is gonna be a belter!

We like that John, All Blackesque.

Thomas: As big a fan of Djokovic as I am, I feel with his physical issues, I think it may well be all about Stan the Man today.

Even though Stan has been on court for twice as long in this tournament Thomas?

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It has been a wretched summer for Novak Djokovic, by his standards at least. The Serb left Rio's Centre Court in tears after a first-round defeat at the Olympics, while he pulled out of the Cincinnati Masters with a “recurring left wrist injury”. There was also a third-round defeat by Sam Querrey at Wimbledon. 

There were fears he could be undercooked for this tournament - only nine matches between the French Open and US Open - but here he is, in the final. Again.

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Andy Roddick

The 2003 champion Andy Roddick has embraced social media today, chatting to fans through the medium of Periscope., external In answering questions on the big final he made clear his view that Stan Wawrinka poses a unique challenge for Novak Djokovic.

"I think Stan Wawrinka, as it stands, is the toughest match in the world for Novak Djokovic," says Roddick. 

"I think it's a tougher match up right now than Andy Murray or Roger Federer. He has the ability to actually hurt Novak Djokovic from the baseline, which not a lot of people can say. Most people make Djokovic an 80% favourite, I think it's more of a coin flip."

Image source, .

It's been a strange tournament for Novak Djokovic. Only three of his six matches completed (a walkover in the second round and a couple of retirements later on), a bizarre semi-final against Gael Monfils and just eight hours and 58 minutes spent on the court. 

Stan Wawrinka, on the other hand, has accumulated quite a bit of mileage this fortnight - nearly 18 hours on the court; one match which went the distance and three four setters. 

Who has the edge? Djokovic for being fresher, although he was troubled by injury and iffy form leading up to this tournament, or Wawrinka, the thirtysomething with plenty of game time.

Mary Pierce
Former French Open champion on BBC Radio 5 live sports extra

"Novak isn't looking as good as he has in the past. Stan has looked really good so I believe this has the potential to be a really exciting match and could go the distance."

You can listen to Mary and Jeff Tarango on 5 live sports extra by clicking 'live coverage' above.

Jeff Tarango
Former professional tennis player on 5 live sports extra

"There's no predicting it. You can go out any day, play your best tennis or worst tennis, that's what makes it so exciting."

The players receive a warm welcome as they walk onto the court. First Wawrinka appears in a fetching raspberry-coloured shirt and shorts. You have to be good to get away with that outfit. Djokovic in more standard attire, azure blue top and white shorts. Business like. 

The coin toss is done and dusted and now the warm up is under way. 

Image source, Getty Images

Yes, a look at the head-to-head would suggest this rivalry is one-sided, that talk of a Stan Wawrinka is victory fanciful. 

It is Djokovic who has won 19 of their 23 encounters, it is Djokovic who has won the last two matches, it is Djokovic who has won their two US Open clashes.  

What hope is there for the Swiss? Well, he has beaten the Serb in Grand Slams in 2014 and 2015... is it an annual thing? Perhaps. 

As Djokovic himself says: "Both of these Grand Slam trophies that he has, he won against me on the way. He's a big-match player. He loves to play in the big stage against big players, because that's when he, I think, elevates his level of performance in his game."

Image source, .

It was back in 2013 that life on the court began to change for Stan Wawrinka. By then, hovering around the top 10, he had lost to Novak Djokovic 10 times on the trot, but during the fourth round of the Australian Open that year against his tormentor something changed. The Swiss started to believe. 

He dug deep, pushed the world number one to his limits before losing 12-10 in the deciding set. Defeated. But a new Stan was born, a future Grand Slam champion made. 

"That's when I start to believe and realise myself that, 'Yeah, maybe I can beat top player in Grand Slam,'" said Wawrinka this week. 

A year later he went on to beat Djokovic in the Australian Open quarter-final, a tournament he would go on to win, and memorably defeated the Serb last year to win the French Open. If anyone can, Stan can. 

Image source, Getty Images

The players will appear on court shortly but first there will be a ceremony to mark the 15th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks in memory of the 2,996 people who lost their lives. 

A minute's silence is impeccably observed before the American flag is unfolded and the national anthem is sung. 

Image source, Getty Images

Hello! Welcome to live coverage of the men's US Open final, featuring two men you have probably heard of - Novak Djokovic and Stan Wawrinka. 

The world number one versus the world number three, a 12-time Grand Slam champion against a two-time champion, a man appearing in his 19th major final up against a guy who is aiming to become the oldest US Open champion in 46 years. 

Djokovic is probably the favourite, but Wawrinka has rained on the Serb's parade on the big stage before. 

A familiar face, a relentless accumulator of titles, a man who knows of no limits. In a Grand Slam final who else but Novak Djokovic would occupy one side of the net. 

The world number one is appearing in his sixth US Open final in seven year and the only man who can stop him winning back-to-back titles at Flushing Meadows is Stan Wawrinka.

Another final with a predictable conclusion? A third Grand Slam of the year for Djokovic? This one might not be so easy to call. 

Image source, Getty Images