Bill Ackman faces backlash after losing professional tennis match
- Bill Ackman, a hedge fund manager, partnered with Jack Sock in a doubles match at the Hall of Fame Open tournament.
- The match ended in a loss to Australians Omar Jasika and Bernard Tomic, raising concerns about Ackman's wildcard entry.
- The incident sparked widespread criticism on social media and among tennis professionals, questioning the fairness of wildcards in professional tennis.
In the United States, billionaire hedge fund manager Bill Ackman faced intense criticism following his participation in a professional tennis match on July 10, 2025, at the Hall of Fame Open in Newport, Rhode Island. Ackman, at 59 years old, made a wildcard entry into the tournament as a doubles partner for former Grand Slam champion Jack Sock, who had also received a wildcard due to his recent retirement from professional tennis. Their match ended in a straight-sets defeat against Australian players Omar Jasika and Bernard Tomic, with a final score of 6-1, 7-5. The match drew considerable attention on social media, where critics expressed their disapproval of Ackman’s participation, questioning his qualifications and the integrity of the wildcard entry process. Various former tennis professionals, including Andy Roddick, condemned the decision to allow Ackman to compete, suggesting that there are many amateurs and lower-ranked players more deserving of such opportunities based on skill and performance. Critics likened Ackman's entry to a mockery of the sport, with Randy Walker, a tournament director, stating he found the match the worst he had ever seen in professional tennis. Ackman himself acknowledged the difficulties he faced during the match, describing it as “very humbling” and admitting he experienced stage fright that affected his performance. Despite being a lifelong tennis enthusiast and supporter of the sport through initiatives such as the Professional Tennis Players Association, many believe his entry was unwarranted and diminished the competitive nature of the tournament. As the backlash continued, many discussions regarding criteria for wildcard entries surfaced, with the ATP outlining that wildcards should not be offered in exchange for compensation, emphasizing the need for a fair selection process. The fallout from this incident has provoked ongoing debates about fairness and meritocracy in professional sports, particularly in relation to prominent figures receiving preferential treatment within competitive settings.