Billionaire hedge fund manager Bill Ackman faced harsh criticism after making his professional tennis debut on August 2, 2023, at the Hall of Fame Open in Newport, Rhode Island. Partnering with three-time grand slam doubles champion Jack Sock, Ackman lost in straight sets 6-1, 7-5 to Australian players Omar Jasika and Bernard Tomic. The match drew immediate backlash from former champions and fans alike, questioning the appropriateness of Ackman’s participation.
Ackman, who is the founder and CEO of Pershing Square Capital Management with a net worth of approximately $9.5 billion according to Forbes, described the experience as a lifelong dream. “I feel like maybe it’s one and done,” he stated, reflecting on his aspirations to play at a professional level. “But I figured one, in my life, that seemed fair.”
Despite fulfilling a personal goal, Ackman’s performance was widely criticized. He acknowledged feeling “stage fright,” a sentiment he shared on social media platform X, where he noted how the pressure affected his ability to play. “I found myself on a tennis court in a live streamed professional tournament with a few hundred in the crowd,” he wrote. “Throughout the match, my wrist, arm and body literally froze with the expected negative outcomes.”
Criticism from Tennis Community
Former world No. 1 Andy Roddick was particularly vocal about his disapproval. On his podcast “Served,” he stated, “You don’t give a wild card to someone who 50 players at my club are better than.” Roddick, who also has ties to the International Tennis Hall of Fame, described Ackman’s match as “the biggest joke I’ve ever watched in professional tennis.” He emphasized the hall’s role in celebrating excellence in the sport and criticized the decision to award a wild card to a player with little competitive experience.
In response to the controversy, the ATP clarified its rules regarding wild cards, stating that tournaments cannot receive compensation for their issuance. CNN Sports has reached out to both Ackman’s management and the International Tennis Hall of Fame for further comment.
Roddick also scrutinized the overall competitiveness of the match, suggesting that only one player on the court was genuinely giving their best effort. “There was exactly one person on that court trying as hard as they could,” he remarked. This sentiment was echoed by Ackman, who noted that his opponents seemed to be holding back, inadvertently adding to his anxiety and performance issues.
Reactions from Tennis Legends
The backlash extended beyond Roddick, as 18-time grand slam singles champion Martina Navratilova remarked on Ackman’s wild card entry, questioning the fairness of the situation. “Apparently you can buy yourself a wild card. Oh to have the confidence…” she wrote on X, highlighting the perceived inequity of the event.
Tennis journalist Jon Wertheim added to the criticism, describing Ackman’s participation as “wildly inappropriate and lacking in integrity” for a sanctioned event that awarded points and prize money. His comments reflect a growing sentiment that such appearances undermine the competitive nature of professional tennis.
As the tennis community processes Ackman’s debut, the incident raises broader questions about the integrity of wild card entries in professional sports. The event has sparked a debate about access and equity in competitive arenas, particularly for aspiring players who may feel overshadowed by the influence of wealth and status.
Overall, while Ackman achieved a personal milestone, the overwhelming response from players, journalists, and fans underscores the complexities of blending celebrity with sport.
