The fireworks, drum rolls, and pom-pom shakes at Madison Square Garden last night weren't for the New York Rangers, and certainly not for the Knicks. Tennis was back in the Big Apple's Big Oval, with an unprecedented match on American soil between champions Roger Federer and Pete Sampras.

More than 19,000 people were in attendance as the 26-year-old Swiss master bested Sampras 6-3, 6-7 (4), 7-6 (6) in the three-set exhibition match presented by NetJets, StarGames, and Men's Vogue. Despite the Federer's dominance in the sport -- he's been tennis's top player for the past 4 years -- Sampras, 36, was obviously the crowd favorite. A "Pistol Pete" banner waved in the stands and loud cheers punctuated his aces and winners. The two have faced off 4 other times, with Federer winning a five-setter at Wimbledon in 2001 and taking two of three exhibition matches during a 2007 tour of Asia.

In front of an eclectic audience that included Tiger Woods, Donald Trump, Barry Diller, and Gap designer Patrick Robinson, the current and former number one players kept it competitive but lighthearted. During the second set, both Sampras and the crowd reacted loudly to a ball hit on the line -- a questionable call that went in Federer's favor. Sampras jokingly threw his arms up in disgust. A smiling Federer told the umpire to reverse the call, which he did.

Sampras, whom Federer has complimented for still possessing one of the top five serves in tennis, looked a little winded at times but held his own -- at least until he found himself on the receiving end of four consecutive aces late in the third set. And although Sampras has roundly rejected any possibility of a return from retirement, he did sound enthusiastic about a rematch against Federer, who is just two Grand Slam titles shy of Sampras's record 14. "I'd love to do it again," Sampras told reporters. But he added that Federer certainly doesn't need to play exhibition matches. "I know, in my day, when I was No. 1 in the world, I'm not so sure I'd have done it."

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