Jamie Scott: I do love all the over-the-top Americana of the #USOpen, external. I wish we had fly-bys and grand pianos on the court at Wimbledon.

Jed Michael: Nadal has struggled against big servers before. Just look at what happened with Gilles Muller at Wimbledon.

Image source, Getty Images

So what is the case for the defence for Kevin Anderson? How can he beat Nadal?

Well. some of world number one Rafael Nadal's recent defeats have come against big-serving, big-hitting guys with the wingspan of a pterodactyl.

Gilles Muller did the business at Wimbledon.

Nick Kyrgios beat him in Cincinnati.

And no-one serves bigger than Anderson.

The South African has pelted down 114 aces in his preceding six matches in the tournament.

Akinpelu Kayode A: What are friends for, Rafael Nadal? Just help your friend win a Grand Slam you've won so many times!

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

Kevin Anderson will try to end this first set quickly and if he can do that he will rattle the world number one. That's his objective. Nadal tends to start slowly before dominating but he will spend the first hour making sure he can't lose the match in five sets.

Russell Fuller
BBC tennis correspondent at Flushing Meadows

This would be one of the major tennis upsets of recent years if Kevin Anderson, the lowest-ranked finalist in the history of the US Open, beats Nadal.

I think Nadal will win in straight sets but I am keeping an open mind because I have been wrong before.

Kevin Anderson's route to the final has not exactly been a gauntlet of tennis' biggest stars.

World number 19 Pablo Carreno Busta in the semi-final was the biggest name beaten by Anderson both literally and in terms of status.

The rest of his run?

Sam Querrey in the quarters.

Paolo Lorenzi in the fourth round.

Borna Coric in the third round and Ernests Gulbis and JC Aragone before that.

This is a step up. And Anderson knows it..

"I'm up against a heck of a player. I'm really sticking to my game and keeping it simple and playing one ball at a time," he tells the interviewer on the way out to Arthur Ashe.

Image source, Getty Images

Piers Newbery
BBC Sport at Flushing Meadows

The stars are aligning - Tiger Woods, Matt Dillon, the lady from Will & Grace and somebody from American Pie are already in the house. Outside on the South Plaza, things feel a lot less partisan than the Del Potro days and nights. A couple of Spanish football shirts can be seen but nothing resembling a Springbok jersey. The afternoon start time also means it's hard to see this final matching the atmosphere of previous nights here, but a good start by Anderson could get things going and take us into the evening.

Image source, BBC Sport

Image source, Getty Images

Sloane Stephens has been out and about today for the traditional Central Park photo op in the wake of her win over fellow American Madison Keys in yesterday's women's final.

The 24-year-old had promised to celebrate her maiden Grand Slam title, complete with $2.8m pay cheque, with a few drinks.

Whether it was the after-effects of the night before or the vertiginous heels of the morning after, she appeared to need a bit of help on her way to the snappers.

Image source, Getty

Image source, EPA

Just the 25 Grand Slam titles across singles, doubles and 21 years of professional tennis for Martina Hingis now.

The Swiss, who yesterday bagged the US Open mixed doubles title with Jamie Murray, was back in action today, winning the women's doubles title alongside Yung-Jan Chan.

The pair beat all-Czech combo Katerina Siniakova and Lucie Hradecka 6-3 6-2.

Alfie Hewett has just been talking about losing the wheelchair singles final to Stephane Houdet.

"Congratulations to Steph for a great final,"" said the Briton. "I just didn't have enough in the tank today after such an exhausting singles and doubles yesterday.

"But I'm proud to be in the final, my first time here, there's a lot of positives to take and hopefully I can be back next year."

Image source, Getty Images

Bad news for Britain from out on Court 17 where Britain's Alfie Hewett has been edged out in by France's Stephane Houdet in the singles wheelchair final.

The 19-year-old from Norfolk, who won the French Open title earlier this year, has gone down 6-2 4-6 6-3.

Image source, BBC Sport

BBC tennis correspondent Russell Fuller is on brand after being handed a US Open puffa jacket.

Size: Medium (US) apparently.

Let him and the rest of the 5 live team guide you through tonight's action.

They are just a tap away at the top of this page, or a quick tweak of your wireless dial.

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It should only go one way shouldn't it?

The bookmakers certainly think so.

Kevin Anderson is 6-1 in a two-horse race.

But nothing would be a more fitting finale to this US Open than victory for the South African serve machine.

Arthur Ashe is currently spangled with minor celebrities and major shows of patriotism. Once that is all done with we will be ready for the US Open men's final.

Our combatants are due on court in about 10 minutes.

Image source, Getty

Rafael Nadal and Kevin Anderson go back. Way back.

At the age of 12, they played against each other in international junior events.

Since then they have risen to the professional ranks, but at different altitudes and trajectories.

Nadal was the youngest ever man to complete a career Grand Slam when he lifted the US Open title as a 24-year-old in 2010.

Only Roger Federer has won more than his 15 Grand Slam titles.

He is the current world number one and has spent a total of 143 weeks - equivalent to two years and eight months - at the top of the rankings.

Anderson has won just three titles in his whole career - with victories in the ATP 250 events in Delray Beach and Winston-Salem in 2012 and 2015 respectively.

He is currently 32nd in the world and has peaked at 10th in the world back in 2015.

He has played top 10 opposition on 68 occasions and emerged victorious just 12 times.