Afternoon everybody - the match gets under way in Dubai, with Roger Federer looking to win his first title since the Halle grass court event in Germany last summer. That's nine months without a win - Federer's worst run since the very earliest days of his career some 13 years ago!

FEDERER 3-6 6-4 6-3: HE'S DONE IT! Federer cruises through his final service game with ease, and he raises his arm aloft as he tastes victory for the first time since last June. Fantastic week for the Swiss, particularly his defining win against Novak Djokovic in the semi-finals. Is he back? Time will tell, but he certainly looked good this week.

FEDERER 3-6 6-4 5-3: Berdych saves his own serve in the end, just about clinging on with some fine serving just when he looked done for. At least he'll have the dignity of making Federer claim it on his own serve.

Federe nets a forehand - the match still alive!

Another break point, as Berdych's backhand clips the tape and falls down on his own side of the net.

Federer earns a match point against Berdych's serve! But he goes long with his return... Deuce.

FEDERER 3-6 6-4 5-2: Big moment for Federer! Berdych saves his own save, then quickly earns two break points against Federer to get back into the match - but Federer saves both, then flies through deuce with ease, albeit only after a failed Berdych appeal to Hawkeye.

FEDERER 3-6 6-4 4-1: Simplest of holds for Federer - he loses just one point in that game, and before you know it has raced into a 0-30 lead in the next on Berdych's serve. One-way traffic right now.

FEDERER 3-6 6-4 3-1: Huge break for Federer! Just as he did to finish off the second set, he pulls Berdych all over Dubai in that game, earning two break poiints - and claiming the game on the second of them. Three games from a first victory in nine months...

FEDERER 3-6 6-4 2-1: Big hold from Federer: Berdych unleashes a sickeningly powerful forehand to earn a break point, but Federer saves it with a whipped forehand winner into the left corner that elicits a fist bump. Federer closes out the game with no more trouble after that.

FEDERER 3-6 6-4 1-1: Huge missed opportunity for Federer! He leads 0-40 on Berdych's serve, but is unable to grab the initiative on any of the next four points as the Czech digs deep to save his service game. Impressive stuff from the big man.

Federer will serve first in the final set - here we go...

FEDERER 3-6 6-4: Federer breaks to win the set! Berdych loses his timing completely on serve in that game, missing the box time and again - and the Swiss supremo pounces all over the nervy second serves which follow, pulling Berdych all over the court. He finishes him off with some wonderful drop shots, smashes and passing shots. Vintage Federer!

THREE BREAK POINTS TO FEDERER! No - make that three set points. He's on fire!

BERDYCH 6-3 4-5: Two more games go by quickly, both players holding with again after that mid-set flurry of excitement with the two consecutive breaks. Federer will have a chance to break in the next to level the match at one set each.

BERDYCH 6-3 3-4: Federer consolidates the break back by holding to love in fine style - the set remains there for the taking...

FEDERER BREAKS BACK! BERDYCH 6-3 3-3: Federer digs deep just as Berydych, perhaps relaxing after getting ahead, drops his guard - and the Czech loses his serve to 15, with Federer pouncing on every second serve, and charging the net nervelessly to finish off break point with a contemptuous smash.

BREAK! BERDYCH 6-3 3-2: The big Czech gets his nose in front in the second set as Federer makes a string of errors in that game. Suddenly he's wiping his brow and looking slower and older.

BERYDYCH 6-3 2-2: Both players hold with ease, and if it carries on like this a tie-break looks very possible in this set, with both men in their stride on serve at the moment.

BERDYCH 6-3 1-1: Solid start to the second set for Federer, and he almost breaks - he gets to 0-40 on Berdych's serve after holding his own, but a review goes against him and Berdych smashes four booming serves down in the space of a few seconds to turn the game around. Federer not getting close to Berdych when his first serve goes in.

BERDYCH 6-3: Berdych serves out the set! It was a nervy game, with Berdych pushed to 30-30 at one point after a review - but from there he blasted two huge serves that Federer barely got a racquet to. The second of them was a risky, win-or-bust second serve hit at top speed - but it found the box to end the set.