![\"Novakov](\"https:\/\/novakdjokovic.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/03\/la_challenge_01.jpg\")
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World no.1 Novak Djokovic teamed with his childhood idol, the 14-time Grand Slam champion Pete Sampras, for some doubles action against Bob and Mike Bryan at the inaugural Los Angeles Tennis Challenge<\/a> charity exhibition on Monday evening, just days before the start of the first ATP World Tour Masters 1000 tournament of the season, the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells.<\/strong><\/p>\n The top-ranked team won 10-7 in an exciting match that thrilled 8,500 fans at renovated Pauley Pavilion.<\/p>\n Nole enjoyed teaming with Pete, whom he credits for getting him interested in the sport as a child when he watched Sampras win one of his seven Wimbledon titles.<\/p>\n “It was such a blast to share the court with Pete,”<\/strong> Djokovic said. “I always wanted to play a match with him or against him just to share the court with him. All the memories come back to me. He’s such a great man off the court.”<\/strong><\/p>\n Novak also played former world no.7 Mardy Fish in a singles match and won a tiebreaker A local Serbian Saint Sava church wanted to do something special to welcome Nole, so a Serbian dance troupe in traditional garb emerged and performed a traditional dance. Novak put on a great show joining them before the match.<\/p>\n Proceeds from the event will benefit the Novak Djokovic Foundation<\/a>, the Justin Gimelstob Children\u2019s Fund, the Mardy Fish Children\u2019s Foundation, Call to Cure and the Southern California Tennis Association\u2019s community tennis initiatives.<\/p>\n
\n7-2 in the American’s return to the court after a six-month absence.<\/p>\n![\"Novakov](\"https:\/\/novakdjokovic.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/03\/la_challenge_02.jpg\")
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