Grigor Dimitrov beat 17-time Grand Slam champion Roger Federer in an exhibition match at Madison Square Garden on Tuesday in a confidence-building victory for the younger player . Dimitrov won 6-2 , 1-6 , 7-5 , rallying from a break down in the final set . The 23-year-old Bulgarian is 0-3 in official matches against Federer , who is ten years older at 33 . Grigor Dimitrov ( right ) and Roger Federer pose for a photo together after their match on Tuesday night . Dimitrov comes forward to pick up the short ball before going on to beat Federer in the exhibition match . Federer plays a forehand during the match held to celebrate World Tennis Day . A general view of Madison Square Garden which hosted the exhibition match on Tuesday night . Dimitrov broke Federer 's serve in the final game to clinch the match , held as part of the World Tennis Day celebrations . Federer said : ' I think he played very well . He did really well to turn the match around , honestly . So credit to him . It 's a lot of pressure - first time at the Garden . ' Earlier , Gabriela Sabatini , 44 , beat Monica Seles , 41 , in a pro set 8-5 . Both have rarely played since retiring , but they decided it was worth training to commemorate the 25th anniversary of their classic five-set 1990 WTA Finals match at the Garden , won by Seles . Gabriela Sabatini ( left ) poses for a selfie with Monica Seles during the BNP Paribas Showdown . Sabatini plays a forehand on her way to an 8-5 victory against American Seles . Seles plays a return during the exhibition match with Sabatini in New York .
Grigor Dimitrov beat Roger Federer 6-2 , 1-6 , 7-5 in New York on Tuesday . The match was the first time that a man from Russia had beaten Federer, who is ranked number one and has won three of his last four matches against Dimitrov, including two straight sets at Flushing Meadows. Gabriela Sabatini beat Monica Seles in a pro-set 8-5 .