VILLANOVA, Pa. -- Facing each other for the first time since last month's U.S. Open final, Andre Agassi beat Pete Sampras 6-5 (5-2), 6-4 Thursday night in a charity exhibition.

The 31-year-old Sampras was playing a day after he said he would not compete in ATP tournaments the rest of the year. He said he will decide in the next month whether to retire. He and his wife, actress Bridgette Wilson, are expecting their first child.

"I've been through a lot the last couple of years,'' Sampras said. "Playing Andre in the final ... it's the perfect ending. On the other hand, it's become fun again. It's fun competing against Andre and these young guys, and I love to play.''

Sampras beat Agassi for the U.S. Open crown, winning in four sets for his 14th major championship.

"I can't say it's always nice,'' said Agassi, referring to his rivalry with Sampras. "But I will say the fundamentals of what I've done my whole life is competition and bringing out the best in ourselves whatever the environment is. We go out there and do what it is we love, so I enjoy it a lot.''

The competition Thursday night, the World Team Tennis Smash Hits at Villanova University, benefits the Elton John AIDS Foundation and local charities. John and Billie Jean King play host to the annual event, which raised $700,000 Thursday.

"Pete and Andre have been so supportive to this event for so long,'' John said. "It just shows you how big of champions they are off the court as they are on the court.''

Agassi and 16-year-old Sunitha Rao made up team Billie Jean King and won the charity event 21-20. Agassi and Rao lost to Team Elton John, Sampras and 16-year-old Ally Baker, 6-3, in a set of mixed doubles. Rao beat Baker 6-5 (5-3).

John was to play a celebrity doubles match with Sampras, but he pulled out because of bursitis in his right shoulder. John travels with a tennis coach.

Notes
The Advanta Championships will return to Villanova next year after a two-year absence. The tournament will be held Oct. 27-Nov. 2, 2003, and is qualifier for the WTA Tour Championships the following week in Los Angeles.