Jeff Tarango
Former professional tennis player on 5 live at Flushing Meadows

Nadal has come here and just fought in every match and played very professionally.

He knows not to strain himself too much early on. He’s taken his time but at the same time sped himself up in-between points.

He looks happy being world number one again and it looks as though he won’t be threatened for that in a while.

Kevin Anderson pummels down an ace for old times' sake.

It steeples past Rafael Nadal's temples like an Allan Donald bouncer.

It is his 10th of the match, his 124th of the tournament, but surely his last.

Nadal serves for the championship and his 16th Grand Slam title next.

Image source, AFP

Rafael Nadal whisks to 40-0 and then produces a sliced second serve that is too foxy for Kevin Anderson.

The South African has fumbled around in the dark with the Nadal serve without ever really getting to grips with it.

Nadal is a game away.

If the engraver hasn't started already, firstly, they are very conservative, secondly, they can fire up the chisel now.

Jeff Tarango
Former professional tennis player on 5 live at Flushing Meadows

I don’t think Anderson has played a lefty before in this tournament so perhaps he’s not quite used to the lefty serve which is why he might be struggling with his backhand return.

Image source, Getty Images

Kevin Anderson, perhaps having resigned himself to defeat and released some of the pressure, splatters a marvelous inside out forehand away for a winner and 40-15.

A nod up to his box is echoed by his wife Kelsey.

If you get a chance on the main stage, you have to try a bit of Stairway...

Rafael Nadal comes charging into the net and clips away a sublime backhand volley into the acres of open court for 40-15.

An Anderson return right up on Rafa's pinkies catches the Spaniard out .

But that is off the stronger forehand side.

When the South African attempts to repeat the trick off his weaker backhand, he duffs long.

Image source, Getty Images

That will be the game that Kevin Anderson watches back first in his US Open debrief.

The South African holds to love with a fizzing backhand down the line that kisses the paint before nearly knee-capping a line judge.

And he seemed to do it hindered by a blister,

The medic is out to dab a bit of iodine on the offending digit.

Image source, Getty Images

Pat Cash
Former Wimbledon champion on BBC Radio 5 live

Ten minutes before Rafa’s about to go out, this locker room attendant asks me to take a photo of her and Nadal. She's had two weeks and decides to ask now. He’s happy to stand there for the picture but you can tell he wants to get out.

I snap the photo but as I take it in a hurry, I move and mess the photo up. Rafa, on his way out, turns around and stands there to take another. I’m just thinking 'oh my goodness.'

So you can see Rafa was pretty relaxed before.

Rafael Nadal romps to 40-0. It looks like business as usual.

But hang on. A double fault.

And a signature El Toro forehand flies long. 40-30.

A glimmer?

If so, Kevin Anderson has sneezed in the souffle.

The South African bops his forehand long to let Rafa slip away.

Image source, Getty Images

Kevin Anderson gets a free one, taking the game to 15.

You can be sure that Rafa would have had the hammer down though if the break was not already in the back pocket.

Rafael Nadal is on cruise control and Kevin Anderson can't knock him out of the driving seat.

The South African has trimmed his margins to millimetres in an attempt to wrestle this match back his way, but he pummels his final forehand long.

Image source, Reuters

Jeff Tarango
Former professional tennis player on 5 live at Flushing Meadows

How many times has it gone to deuce on Anderson’s serve? My mum would have made me run laps for that.

That might be the Anderson challenge fatally holed.

The world number 32 cracks a forehand wide as he attempt to style his way out of break point.

But his skills can't cash the cheque his aggressive mindset is writing...

Image source, Getty Images

Whenever umpire Jake Garner says Kevin Anderson's name, I hear it in the style of Agent Smith from the Matrix growling "Mr Anderson."

Never mind the Matrix, we seem to be in Groundhog Day.

It is deuce on the South African's serve once again...

Pat Cash
Former Wimbledon champion on BBC Radio 5 live

it’s been a pretty solid performance so far. Rafa seems to be getting better.

Rafael Nadal is accelerating away here.

Just three points lost on serve during that set and only two unforced errors.

It is clean, tidy, consistent tennis and that is enough. The glittery stardust, the real razzle dazzle stuff can be saved for stiffer opposition.

Image source, Reuters

Rafael Nadal racks up 15-30 and Kevin Anderson faces losing the set against the head.

But that is better from Anderson as he clambers into a couple of mammoth forehands to knock Rafael Nadal out of shape.

A thumping serve to seal the game. But Nadal loads up his holster and he hasn't missed yet...

Image source, Rex Features

Pat Cash
Former Wimbledon champion on BBC Radio 5 live

Does Anderson stand much closer to the baseline to really go after Rafa’s second serve? It’s not working at the moment just getting the ball back in play.

Piers Newbery
BBC Sport at Flushing Meadows

There might be 23,000 spectators on Ashe but outside it has the feeling of a lazy, hazy afternoon around Flushing Meadows as the tennis comes to an end, with just the men's and wheelchair quad finals still under way. Meanwhile, the concession stands are packing up and even the official store is queue-free for the first time in two weeks. Bargain-bin time.

Image source, BBC Sport

Perptual motion? I think we have got it cracked.

Just dangle a tennis ball on a string in front of Rafael Nadal and rig the Spaniard up to a generator.

Nadal covers every speck of paint on the Arthur Ashe surface as he runs down a couple of Kevin Anderson volleys and then whacks away a winner to close out the rally.

Another hold as he closes in on the second set.