Sampras lasts an hour with Federer

SEOUL, South Korea -- Pete Sampras, formerly the world's top player, was no match for current number one Roger Federer in an exhibition match in Seoul on Tuesday.

Federer, who claimed a fourth Masters Cup in Shanghai on Sunday won 6-4 6-3 in a contest that lasted just over 60 minutes.

Sampras retired from the professional game in 2002 but the 36-year-old is unbeaten in three matches on the Jim Courier Outback Champions seniors tour.

Federer said: "It was a little tricky situation. I'd been playing well and Pete's been retired for five years. I expected myself to win tonight.

"I am very happy with my performance but I think Pete's still playing very, very well."

Sampras said he was a little disappointed. "But I made Roger sweat a little bit tonight.

"I can still serve quite well but the hardest thing for me is movement," he said.

"I was a little careless up on the net and missed a few easy balls. But I think I will play well in the next match."

The pair will continue their three-match series in Kuala Lumpur on Thursday and Macau on Saturday.

In the opening set Sampras broke Federer's serve in the fifth game and when he went 4-2 up his prospects looked bright.

But Federer came back to win the next four games and then four of the first five in the second set.

Sampras fired 10 aces in the match to Federer's six..

"I feel a little disappointed," Sampras said. "But I made Roger sweat a little bit tonight.

The two met competitively only once, in the fourth round of Wimbledon in 2001 when the up and coming Federer won in five sets. E-mail to a friend