Megain -plating Bill Ackman debuts in professional tennis at 59 – and tennis players

Newport – Bill Ackman, the investor billionaire, succeeded in practically everything he did, professionally and in other areas. He transformed his own, the Pershing Square Capital Management into a winner. Supported President Donald Trump’s third campaign – and his second term. And he is an active user on social networks, often publishing long texts in X, which made him famous on the internet.

However, tennis is different.

This was the apparent lesson given on Wednesday afternoon, when Ackman, 59, and his double partner, former professional Jack Sock, lost direct sets to a pair of less known players, in front of a sweaty and wealthy audience at the International Tennis Hall of Fame in Newport, Rhode Island, a famous Summer Summer for Dourada Industrial.

Read more: Bill Ackman: Who is the billionaire and controversial investor activist

The defeat took place at the Hall of Fame Open, an official ATP Challenger lower level tournament, which actually made Ackman a professional tennis player, even for a day. This has done an old ambition – and most likely he said, ended his career.

“I feel it may have been just once,” said Ackman after his 6-1, 7-5 and Soch defeat, noting that he wanted to support younger players to get his places and opportunities in the tournaments. “But I thought once in my life it seemed fair.”

Some viewers, however, had different interpretations.

“Another mega-biliumine living his particular dream,” said Lydia Chambers, a New Jersey New Jersey’s tennis fan, who watched the match. “I hope he’s making a huge donation.”

In fact, Ackman’s day under the spotlight seemed to fit into the proud – and sometimes tragic – tradition of very rich men doing athletic things and embarking on adventures, sometimes with questionable qualifications. Ballooning and yastism are popular, as are space flights. And, of course, politics.

But tennis, as has been said, is different: a sport whose psychology has been exhaustively analyzed, a talent and tactical test known to lead to the big ones to despair.

“The depressing about tennis is that no matter how good I stay,” joked comedian Mitch Hedberg, “I will never be as good as a wall.”

Some commentators were particularly annoyed by Ackman’s sudden rise at the professional level.

“Whether wimbledon or the most modest tournament of minor tennis alloys, there are no shortcuts to enter,” wrote Dan Wolken, columnist, adding, “Unless, of course, you’re the Bill Ackman billionaire.”

Tennis is also known for attracting what British author Martin Amis has eufemically called “personalities” – egocentric types who think their ability to hit the ball gives them excitement for bad modes. And on Wednesday, some observers on the edge of the court mumbled discreetly about Ackman’s arrogance by thinking that he could compete with professionals.

For his part, Ackman said he was always a fan and tennis player, although he practiced rowing as a college student at Harvard, long before using his X platform – with 1.8 million followers and counting – to attack the university.

Last week, Ackman announced at X that he was playing “the best tennis of my life” and had accepted an invitation to play with soch in the hall of fame, adding about the capacity of the place, with 3,100 seats, that “there are no bad places.”

There were, however, some bad blows, especially in the early afternoon of Ackman, which was thrown under stuffy conditions in a well -cared for grass. His first withdrawal of withdrawal fell about 6 meters from the net – on his side of the court. The second return was a little better, at least, falling into the network. And his first withdrawal-already losing 2-1 on the first set-it was not much better: there was a double foul, an unprecedented mistake and a volley on the net. 3-1.

But Ackman didn’t play alone. Sock, 32, is an experienced player. Two -time double champion in Wimbledon – another grass tournament currently ongoing – Sock also has doubles at US Open and Olympic gold medal. It has been Top 10 in simple, announced retirement in 2023 and now – like many retirees – plays pickleball.

Some in the audience openly wondered what was necessary for Ackman to play on block 1, regardless of his partner. However, they confirmed that Ackman played as part – and a partner – from a “Wild Card” invitation granted to Sock, which was eligible for won the title of pairs in the Hall of Fame in 2021. (ACKMAN is also a great donor of the institution.)

Their opponents were Australian duo Omar Jasika and Bernard Tomic, both competent players – Tomic has been Top 20 in simple – although none is a well -known name of the general public.

Ackman’s initial stumbling blocks generated severe criticism of avid fans of tennis such as Margie Russell, resident of Hyannis Port, Massachusetts, who comfortably watched a private party with a balcony overlooking court 1.

“Don’t turn to look at your partner because you’ll take a blow,” said Russell. “Rule number one is never turning your back on the network.”

That said, Ackman also won some supporters, including one that brought a handmade poster, with two floating photos of Ackman’s head and the slogan: “59 and at the height!”

A fan, Angus McIntosh, said he found Ackman’s efforts “impressive” and applauded him for following his passions. “It takes courage,” he said.

In his X post announcing his professional debut, Ackman suggested that his performance could be a milestone, and that he could be “the oldest person in the history of tennis at 59, earning ATP points,” which are used to rank men’s players and are granted to simple or double winners.

An ATP Tour spokesman said, however, that Ackman would have been the third oldest to ranked: even younger than Lars Elvstrom, a little known Danish player who was almost 60 when he retired with points in the account. Another even older player Gardnar Mullay was 64 when he won his latest ATP points, but that happened at a time – the 1970s – when players could earn points just to play.

Ackman avoided these complicated distinctions, of course, by losing. But he and Soch made the game interesting on the second set, with Ackman’s highlight probably occurring in the sixth game when he hit two Winners, including a Smash over his head, drawing the set in 3-3.

A small chorus of “Go, Bill!” It was heard, and for a moment it seemed that Ackman could continue his success story with a turn.

But the tennis is different: even when it seemed to find its pace, the pairs and unconshed errors of Ackman soon returned.

After just 1 hour and 7 minutes, the Ackman era apparently ended, with some tennis professionals expressing anger because it happened.

In his “Apsed,” former US Open Champion Andy Roddick, Podcast criticized the match on Wednesday night, saying “You don’t give a Wild Card to someone that 50 players from my club are better.”

“It was a complete joke,” said Roddick, adding, “It was the biggest joke I’ve ever seen in professional tennis.”

For his part, Ackman seemed pleased, though a little tired, as he leaves the court accompanied by security guards and a spokesman. In a quick interview, Ackman, with sweat still dripping by the forehead, admitted to being nervous to show his skills, something that seemed surprising even to himself.

“I could make a speech to 2,000 people, no problem,” he said. “But staying in front of 150 people and playing tennis is a little different.”