Key Takeaways
- • Bill Ackman, 59-year-old billionaire hedge fund manager and CEO of Pershing Square Capital Management (net worth $9.4 billion), made his professional tennis debut at the Hall of Fame Open doubles tournament in Newport, Rhode Island on April 9, 2026.
- • Ackman partnered with Olympic gold medalist and two-time Grand Slam champion Jack Sock in doubles competition, losing decisively 6-1, 7-5 in straight sets to Australian pros Bernard Tomic and Omar Jasika in a match lasting 67 minutes.
- • The debut generated significant backlash from tennis professionals and the sports community, with legendary U.S. player Andy Roddick calling the match "the biggest joke I've watched in professional tennis" and describing it as "beneath the Hall of Fame."
- • Prior to the match, Ackman publicly stated he was "playing the best tennis of my life" and expressed optimism about winning ATP points, claiming that at 59 he would be the oldest person in tennis history to do so.
- • Pershing Square's portfolio includes major positions in Uber Technologies (15.90%), Amazon (14.28%), Alphabet (12.46%), Meta Platforms (11.37%), and Brookfield Corp (18.15%), with the fund up 12.7% through July 2026.
Summary
Bill Ackman, founder and CEO of hedge fund Pershing Square Capital Management, made his professional tennis debut on April 9, 2026, at the Hall of Fame Open doubles tournament in Newport, Rhode Island. The 59-year-old billionaire investor, with a reported net worth of $9.4 billion, partnered with American professional Jack Sock—a two-time Grand Slam champion and Olympic gold medalist—against Australian professionals Bernard Tomic and Omar Jasika. The match resulted in a decisive loss for Ackman and Sock, who were defeated 6-1, 7-5 in straight sets over the course of 67 minutes.
Prior to the match, Ackman had expressed considerable optimism about his competitive readiness, publicly stating that he was "playing the best tennis of my life." He encouraged spectators to attend the tournament, noting that if his team won, he would become the oldest person in tennis history at age 59 to win ATP points. Ackman emphasized that Sock, despite being one of the greatest doubles players ever, would provide sufficient support for a competitive outcome. However, his performance on court did not align with these pre-match expectations.
The professional debut generated substantial criticism from the tennis community. Legendary U.S. player Andy Roddick voiced strong disapproval, describing the match as "the biggest joke I've watched in professional tennis" and characterizing the event as "a disaster" beneath the standards of the Hall of Fame tournament itself. Social media commentary and sports outlets highlighted the apparent mismatch between Ackman's skill level and professional tournament standards, with observers noting his lack of prior professional match experience.
Despite the tennis controversy, Ackman's primary occupation remains at Pershing Square, where he continues to manage a significant investment portfolio. As of December 31, 2025, the fund's largest holdings include Brookfield Corp (18.15%), Uber Technologies (15.90%), Amazon (14.28%), Alphabet (12.46%), and Meta Platforms (11.37%). Pershing Square has delivered a 12.7% return through July 2026, outperforming broader market benchmarks.
Prior to the match, Ackman had expressed considerable optimism about his competitive readiness, publicly stating that he was "playing the best tennis of my life." He encouraged spectators to attend the tournament, noting that if his team won, he would become the oldest person in tennis history at age 59 to win ATP points. Ackman emphasized that Sock, despite being one of the greatest doubles players ever, would provide sufficient support for a competitive outcome. However, his performance on court did not align with these pre-match expectations.
The professional debut generated substantial criticism from the tennis community. Legendary U.S. player Andy Roddick voiced strong disapproval, describing the match as "the biggest joke I've watched in professional tennis" and characterizing the event as "a disaster" beneath the standards of the Hall of Fame tournament itself. Social media commentary and sports outlets highlighted the apparent mismatch between Ackman's skill level and professional tournament standards, with observers noting his lack of prior professional match experience.
Despite the tennis controversy, Ackman's primary occupation remains at Pershing Square, where he continues to manage a significant investment portfolio. As of December 31, 2025, the fund's largest holdings include Brookfield Corp (18.15%), Uber Technologies (15.90%), Amazon (14.28%), Alphabet (12.46%), and Meta Platforms (11.37%). Pershing Square has delivered a 12.7% return through July 2026, outperforming broader market benchmarks.
Go deeper than the headline
Research every firm in this story, track the ones that matter and get the daily briefing — free for 7 days.