AP Photo Courtesy Getty Images by Nick Laham

Tennis finally made its triumphant return to Madison Square Garden after seven-plus years away. The best part was it did so in style with two tennis greats Pete Sampras and world No.1 Roger Federer putting on a show for the ages.

Sure. It was only an exhibition with proceeds benefiting less fortunate with fifty thousand dollars raised while each brilliant grand slam champion pocketed plenty of chunk change and excessive gifts. What else would you expect from tennis royalty?

Especially with it being another classic exhibition between arguably the two best men’s tennis players of all-time. The last time they met, the 10 years younger Federer took two-of-three matches from the 36 year-old Sampras with Pistol Pete finally getting the final one showing he can still deliver remarkable stuff on a court he once owned.

There’s a reason Sampras holds the men’s slam record of 14 while the Federer Express chases him hoping to at least match it by year’s end with a couple of more. The big serve was still on display as was the running forehand and enjoyable touch at the net like no one else in today’s game.

Or as everyone’s favorite color guy John McEnroe would say:

“A lost art.”

In a fitting match of two great champions who have combined for 26 career slams, the younger Federer had just enough to edge Sampras in three sets 6-3, 6-7 (4), 7-6 (6) before a packed Garden of more than 19,000 who got exactly what they came for.

Early on, it looked like it would be a routine night for Federer as he broke Sampras with some spectacular hustle forcing a nervous opponent into some miscues at the net. The 26 year-old Swede claimed the opening set with a second break.

He was a game away at 5-4 but a resilient Sampras had other ideas pushing a much closer second set to a tiebreak. In it, some of that classic Pete form showed up as he outhit his younger opponent from the baseline drawing an error off a well struck forehand for a mini-break. Still banging his serve at better than 130 MPH which was at least 10-15 better than the more precise Federer, Sampras closed out the breaker and gave a pump of the fist knowing it was going the distance.

If that set was a nice turnaround for Pistol Pete who found the range in all facets, then the final set was your epic battle between two of the best who hate losing. Even if it was for fun, the competitive fire between them was evident with each forcing the other to produce their best tennis.

At first, it seemed like Federer would have a repeat of the opening set jumping out to a 2-0 break lead. However, just when it seemed he had it, Sampras cameback strong to not only break once but yet again in the sixth game. A service hold gave him five straight games and put him one from what would’ve been a storybook victory.

But Federer found his game just when he needed it most. After holding for 3-5, he put the pressure on Sampras forcing a couple of break points. A monster Sampras service’ winner saved one putting Pistol Pete within a couple of points of the win.

However, Federer upped his return game producing a couple of winners including a backhand reply up the line to get back on serve at 4-5. Needing to still hold to stay in the riveting two and a half hour match, what did The Maestro do next? Taking a page out of Sampras’ book, he proceeded to strike four consecutive aces leaving his amused opponent to smile as the champion pointed an index finger playfully to the crowd smirking with avid Nike supporter Tiger Woods in the house.

When the two each held once more, the crowd had what it wanted. A final set breaker to decide who was better. Well, heck. Sampras could comeback if he still wanted but seeing at how unbelievable wife Bridgette Wilson looked, who could blame the tennis Hall of Famer much for staying away? Have you ever seen a hotter trophy wife? Please don’t say Eva Longoria. I don’t think she compares.

The final breaker had its own set of drama as each player traded mini-breaks. Sampras once again was a couple of points away up 5-2 but Federer cameback strong taking the next four points to setup match point. With the crowd urging Sampras on, he delivered with another huge serve out wide which Federer had a short reply on.

AP Photo Courtesy Getty Images by Ed Betz

Unfortunately, that was the final point Sampras won. They played another fun point on his next serve. With Pete at the net having struck a couple of volleys, a running Federer ripped a trademark backhand winner up the line to setup his second match point.

This time, he converted it. While at the net, he forced Sampras to go for too much on a crosscourt backhand which missed wide giving a pleased Federer his third win in four exhibition matches against his worthy opponent.

“It turned out to be this thriller match,” he later told the Associated Press.

“This is maybe why so many people came out: You don’t often get the No. 1 in his prime playing against maybe the greatest player of all time.”

“It was a great night for tennis,” a delighted Sampras said. “Roger’s got more important things to worry about than playing me.”

They only met once during Sampras’ brilliant career with Federer getting the better of the seven-time Wimbledon champion ending Pete’s run of four straight in an epic five-setter which Roger concluded with a return backhand winner before dropping to his knees. Of course, it’s still shown as it truly was the passing of the torch from one legend to the next.

Who knew?