59-Year-Old Billionaire To Play Doubles With Former No. 8 At ATP Challenger Event
NewsThursday, 03 July 2025 at 17:24
Tennis fans will have an opportunity to watch a unique spectacle when billionaire businessman Bill Ackman plays a professional doubles match with four-time Grand Slam doubles champion Jack Sock.
Ackman is a big tennis fan who enjoys playing the sport. However, a 59-year-old with no previous professional experience competing at an ATP tournament is a brave move because of the likelihood of it ending in disaster.
Nick Kyrgios and Ackman had initially confirmed plans to play at an event together. The billionaire confirmed at the start of his X post about Sock that an injury to the Australian has delayed that process.
"A tennis update. I met @NickKyrgios on @X and he proposed we play an ATP tournament together. Unfortunately, Nick got injured so our doubles hopes have been delayed, but fortunately fate intervened."
Ackman then confirmed that Sock had chosen him to be his partner after the multiple-time Grand Slam doubles champion received a wild card into the 2025 Newport Open.
"@JackSock managed to get a wildcard into the @TennisHalloFame Hall of Fame Open in Newport Rhode Island, an @atptour Challenger and @WTA 125 event, and invited me to be his partner. I of course accepted. Doubles matches begin next Tuesday, July 8th."
That tournament was an ATP 250 until being downgraded to a 125-level challenger this year. It has now also become a combined ATP and WTA event, meaning it will be action-packed.
Ackman provided some background about the venue for those who are not ardent tennis fans and confirmed he recently played an amateur tournament there with his partner. They did not win the title.
"The International Tennis Hall of Fame is where the best of the best tennis players from around the world are recognized. @MariaSharapova and Bob and Mike Bryan were inducted this year. @rogerfederer will join the Hall of Fame in 2026. They also have a great museum of the sport, and do a lot to promote the game. It is a spectacular old world venue, and Newport is an amazing and charming town."
"I just finished the Finance Cup tournament that was held at the Hall of Fame (Richey Reneberg and I lost in the semis 9-8 in a close one), and it is a superb venue for the players. The grass courts are of Wimbledon quality or even better. The management and staff are superb, and the place reeks of history, quality, and the best that tennis has to offer."
Although many will undoubtedly dismiss Ackman's chances of being able to compete effectively, he is confident and claims to be playing the best tennis of his life ahead of the appearance with Sock.
"I am playing the best tennis of my life and Jack is one of the greatest doubles players ever (he won @Wimbledon and the @usopen, and a gold medal in the Olympics), and we start practice this Friday, so you never know."
It seems like Ackman also wants to play with Kyrgios at some point. The 2022 Wimbledon runner-up missed this year's grass-court swing because of the injury that Ackman mentioned.
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