After decades of American tennis icons—from Jimmy Connors and John McEnroe to Pete Sampras, Andre Agassi, and later Andy Roddick—the next generation struggled to match that dominance amid the era of the Big Three. One of the brightest talents from that group was Jack Sock.
A former World No. 8 and Olympic medalist, Sock captured titles in both singles and doubles, including a Masters 1000 trophy in singles, and three Grand Slams in doubles. But after injuries and fluctuating form, he shifted his focus to doubles before announcing his retirement in 2023 at the age of 31.
Now, in a surprising twist, Sock is making a comeback—this time on the doubles court at the ATP Challenger 125 event in Newport. His partner? Not a rising tennis star, but billionaire investor and hedge fund manager Bill Ackman.
The 59-year-old CEO of Pershing Square Capital Management has never played in a professional tennis event before, yet the pair were granted a wild card entry into the tournament, drawing both curiosity and criticism. Some within the tennis community have questioned the decision, arguing that the spot could have gone to an active competitive duo.
Jack Sock won Wimbledon in 2018 with Mike Bryan. (Michael Steele/Getty Images)
Ackman on the opportunity
Ackman, who has built a reputation in the financial world for bold, high-stakes investments, expressed enthusiasm for his on-court debut, as reported by Front Office Sports.
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“I’ve never played with Jack Sock,” Ackman said. “I imagine I’ll play on the deuce side because Jack prefers the ad side. When my serve is working, it’s good. I’ll be at my best next week. I’m going to try to have fun. We’ll do our best to win and put on a good show. It’s a unique experience—unless we win”. Ackman and Sock are scheduled to face Australians Bernard Tomic and Omar Jasika in the opening round.
Bill Ackman, investor, watches as Emma Raducanu of Great Britain plays against Maria Sakkari of Greece during the 2011 US Open. (Elsa/Getty Images)
Jack Sock’s legacy
Sock’s best stretch came between 2015 and 2017, a period during which he won all four of his career singles titles, including the 2017 Rolex Paris Masters. In doubles, he reached even greater heights, winning 17 ATP titles with multiple partners.
At the 2016 Rio Olympics, he brought home two medals for the United States: gold in mixed doubles with Bethanie Mattek-Sands and bronze in men’s doubles alongside Steve Johnson.
While his recent time away from tennis was spent exploring pickleball—one of America’s fastest-growing sports—his return to the tennis court, especially under these unique circumstances, is sure to draw attention.
Whether it’s a one-time appearance or the start of a new chapter, Jack Sock’s return with a high-profile partner makes the Newport Challenger one of the most intriguing stops on the tennis calendar this summer.
