Former world number one Victoria Azarenka is enjoying this face-off. 

Nadal continues to sit back and wait when he is receiving, Federer proving to be much proactive. A hunter always hunts, eh?

There is a hairy moment as Federer misses a forehand to give Nadal a slight sniff at 30-30, only to save himself with a couple of big service points.

Manchhui : Nadal currently producing too many unforced errors to have a chance to win this final.  

This is what great champions are made of. And I'm talking about Rafa on this occasion. Roger Federer racks up a second break point - much to the delight of many in the Miami crowd - but Nadal keeps his nerve to construct another neat point.

He holds off the Swiss, going on to hold what could be a key service game.

Talk about guts...

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Nadal's poised...he thumps down a first serve. Federer returns...Nadal pulls out a drop-shot... Federer makes it. But Nadal is ready and waiting at the net, volleying a winner before swivelling with a vigorous fist-pump that almost knocks him off balance...

Rafa Nadal appears to be trying to end the points very quickly rather than dragging them out against an ageing opponent (albeit Roger Federer) - and it could prove costly.

Rafa's haste is Roger's gain, the Swiss clocking up the first break point of the second set....

Dennis Ethan : Federer moving freely on court much more than Nadal today and a solid forehand so far. The difference for me. 

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And still no break points. Federer is totally in control of his service game, Nadal spraying returns all over the place. 

He changes direction more often than a clock pendulum, failing to consistently target one part of Federer's game. 

A stretching forehand ends up smacking the net-post, ending another game in favour of Federer without a dent on the Swiss's serve.

Nadal has tweaked his game after the losses to Federer in the Australian Open final and at Indian Wells but will it be enough? Federer seems to have adapted to whatever Nadal is throwing at him.

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Anything Roger can do...

Rafa hits back with a quality service game, firing a warning shot to Roger that he is not prepared to cough up his serve as easily as he did in the first set.

We saw 10 break points in the first set. Not one so far in the second...

One cannot help swoon over Roger Federer. Whatever he does - a dreamy forehand at 15-0, a deft pick-up at 30-0, a clinical winner at 40-0 - it just makes you purr.

Another easy hold-to-love for the Swiss in about the time it takes to boil a half-full kettle.

Sweat is seeping out of Rafa Nadal's pores as he takes a moment to look up to the clear blue Miami sky at 40-30 in his favour. He's feeling the heat. Perhaps in more ways than one.

What's he looking at? A drone perhaps? It brings a few jeers from the crowd, who are slightly more pro-Federer, but it does not distract Nadal. He sees out the hold.

Kristine Kirby : If Nadal is backed into a corner, he will fight his way out. Mentally strong and physically he should be fresher than Roger.  

And talking of routine holds....that is what Federer gets as the match ticks past the hour mark.

Roger's forehand is sizzling, producing an average speed of 84 mph so far. That is his go-to shot again, forcing Nadal back as the Spaniard struggles to get his footwork right.

Nadal slaps a backhand into the net to seal a hold-to-love for the Swiss.

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Just what the tennis doctor ordered for Rafa Nadal. A spoonful of good serving. 

The Spaniard holds to 15 in the opening game of the second set, rarely threatened by the Swiss' armoury.

Let's get going again. Rafa has the ball in his hand to start this second set...

Mehdi Syed : Come on Federer, let's do it again. Ages like wine. Greatest of all time.

Anyone disappointed so far? Didn't think so. There is more affection inside Crandon Park than there was in Haight-Ashbury during the summer of love. Banners, t-shirts, flags - everyone wants to tell these two how much they mean to them.

Both players nip off for a pit stop. Roger returning a couple of minutes head of Rafa, who seems to have had a quick change of shorts...

Well, well, well. The direction of that set changed very quickly. From jogging alongside each other shoulder to shoulder, Federer decided to bolt for the line - and he made it.

The 18-time Slam champ rattles off an easy hold in about 60 seconds to take the first set.

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Federer earns himself a second break point - again Rafa goes to the serve down the middle to save.

But Federer is not going to be denied.

The Swiss earns a third bite of the apple when he pounces on a lame second serve by Spaniard. Predatory.

He's got it!

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