T his exhibition match was a curiosity.
Spectacle and a little quality tennis.
The two met only once in an official pro match, like ships passing in the night, with Federer winning a five-setter at Wimbledon in 2001 that sent Sampras toward his 2002 retirement and Federer toward the top. But, as Federer steadily closed in on Sampras' major-title mark and Sampras began playing exhibitions last year, Federer proposed they cross swords in public.
A three-match tour of Asia late last year - Federer won the first two, Sampras the third - left Sampras asking that they meet in the United States and, in a chaotic 90 days, last night's match was cobbled together. Sampras said he was "shocked" to learn their show sold out in two weeks - top ticket $1,000, cheapest $50 - and sports agent Jerry Solomon said he had calls from the likes of Tiger Woods, Donald Trump, Rupert Murdoch, Vogue editor Anna Wintour, jazz musician Wynton Marsalis, tenor Placido Domingo (and Solomon's wife, Nancy Kerrigan) for tickets.
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