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Time of India
2 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
How Bill Ackman made tennis look like a billionaire's toy
What might a billionaire lose at? Turns out, tennis. Bill Ackman — founder of Pershing Square Capital Management , personal fortune pushing $9.5 billion — tried to tick 'pro tennis player' off his bucket list. He did it on one of the sport's official stages, the Hall of Fame Open in Newport, Rhode Island. Partnered with Jack Sock , a three-time grand slam doubles champion, Ackman faced Australians Omar Jasika and Bernard Tomic. They lost. Badly. 6-1, 7-5. For Ackman, it was a dream fulfilled. 'I feel like maybe it's one and done,' he told The New York Times. 'But I figured one, in my life, that seemed fair.' But fair is exactly what many argue it wasn't. Dreams versus deserved spots To some, this was a rich man playing out his fantasy at the expense of pros clawing for real ranking points and prize money. Former US Open winner Andy Roddick didn't mince words. 'This was the biggest joke I've ever watched in professional tennis ,' he said on his Served podcast. 'You don't give a wild card to someone who 50 players at my club are better than.' The backlash was instant. Martina Navratilova chimed in, 'Apparently you can buy yourself a wild card. Oh to have the confidence…' Tennis journalist Jon Wertheim put it bluntly: 'This would've been fine for a pro-am. For a sanctioned event with points and prize$? It was, at best, wildly inappropriate and lacking in integrity.' Live Events Ackman insists he didn't pay for the chance. The Hall of Fame Open confirmed no cash changed hands, in line with ATP rules. But the optics don't lie: a billionaire hobbyist standing where young grinders should be. Wild card, wild debate Wild cards exist for good reason. Young talent on the rise. Stars returning from injury. Local favourites who can pack a stadium. This wasn't that. Sock, who retired in 2023 and now plays pickleball, asked for a wild card as a past champion. He chose Ackman as his partner — though they'd never met before. Ackman made no secret of his excitement. 'I am playing the best tennis of my life,' he declared on X, where he's known for lengthy posts and occasional conspiracy detours. He told followers he'd been hitting with greats like Roger Federer in casual sessions. Practice is one thing. The pro tour is another. The stage fright of a billionaire If Ackman's wealth could buy him a slot, it couldn't buy him calm nerves. He admitted as much afterwards. 'I can speak in front of an audience of a thousand people or in a TV studio on a broad range of topics without any preparation and without a twinge of fear, but yesterday I had my first real experience with stage fright,' he wrote on X. 'My wrist, arm and body literally froze… I had difficulty breathing.' Despite his nerves, the match drew a mix of polite applause, polite mockery and polite confusion. Lydia Chambers, a fan watching in Newport, summed up the mood: 'Another mega-billionaire living out his own private dream. I hope he's making a huge donation.' Why tennis is different Money talks in many corners of life. Not on a tennis court. This sport is a test of one thing above all: whether you can hit the ball better than the person across the net. No speech, no hedge fund, no billion-dollar position can save you. You win or you don't. Dan Wolken of USA Today nailed the point: 'Whether it's Wimbledon or the lowest-rung tournament in tennis' minor leagues, there aren't any shortcuts to getting in… Unless, of course, you're billionaire hedge fund guy Bill Ackman.' Sure, tennis has always had its share of big egos. Martin Amis once called its characters 'personalities' with a gift for bad manners. But even the brashest must earn their place through wins, not wire transfers. This whole stunt grates because it jars with tennis's reputation as a meritocracy. Jannik Sinner, Carlos Alcaraz, Coco Gauff — they didn't buy their way in. They earned every point. Even Jessica Pegula, daughter of billionaires, couldn't shortcut the grind. Win matches, rise up. Lose, drop out. Simple. Brutal. Fair. What rankles many is that this was not a pro-am charity hit. This was an ATP Challenger event — a stepping stone for hungry players who live tournament to tournament. For them, a wildcard can be life-changing. Ackman's cameo made it feel like a joke. Unsurprisingly, there won't be one. He knows it. 'I feel like maybe it's one and done,' he shrugged, sweat dripping, security at his side. Some cheered him on. Others, like Roddick, are still shaking their heads. In the end, Bill Ackman didn't break tennis. But for a brief moment, he bent it — and reminded everyone why, at its best, this sport is meant for those who fight for every point, not those who buy the right to swing for them. (with inputs from NYT)
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Trumpy Billionaire, 59, Flamed for Pro-Tennis Debut Disaster
Tennis fans are serving up savage critiques after billionaire Bill Ackman stole someone's spot at a tennis tournament and lost miserably. The 59-year-old MAGA financier caused quite a racket Wednesday after he and his doubles partner, retired pro player Jack Sock, failed to win a single set at the Hall of Fame Open, a famed summer tournament in Newport, Rhode Island. After an hour and seven minutes, the pair lost the match 6-1, 7-5. Ackman was forced to step off the court, dripping with sweat. 'I could give a speech to 2,000 people, no problem,' he said. 'But to get in front of 150 people and play tennis is a little different.' Ackman is a major donor to the International Tennis Hall of Fame, which puts on the tournament. But tournament officials claimed that Ackman played as part of a 'wild card' entry granted to Sock, who was eligible for it as he won the 2021 doubles title at the Hall of Fame. Nevertheless, onlookers questioned how Ackman got a spot to play in the first place. Or, as USA Today columnist Dan Wolken wrote, 'Whether it's Wimbledon or the lowest-rung tournament in tennis' minor leagues, there aren't any shortcuts to getting in. Unless, of course, you're billionaire hedge fund guy Bill Ackman.' 'Another mega-billionaire living out his own private dream,' tennis fan Lydia Chambers told The New York Times. 'I hope he's making a huge donation.' Journalist Glenn Greenwald posted on X, 'BillAckman used his vast wealth to worm his way into a professional, ATP-sanctioned tennis tournament at the Hall of Fame at the age of 59. His level was so abysmal that it forced the professional players on the court to pat the ball to him, enraging the tennis world.' 'Bill Ackman (59 y/o billionaire hedge fund manager) somehow bribed his way into a professional tennis tournament today. It went about as well as you could expect,' one X user scoffed. Another said, 'I guess when you're worth $9.5 Billion, tour players will treat you like a 'Make-A-Wish' child in your ATP Challenger match. Bill Ackman is an absolute joke.' A third added, 'Bill Ackman should not have been given a wild card for a professional tennis tournament, when he doesn't play on that level. If Ackman wanted to be mocked for competing in a circus event in which he'd be overmatched, he could have called Jake Paul.' Ackman's excuse for his horrible defeat? Stage fright. 'I can speak in front of an audience of a thousand people or in a TV studio on a broad range of topics without any preparation and without a twinge of fear, but yesterday I had my first real experience with stage fright,' he wrote on X. He even claimed that his body involuntarily froze and his 'difficulty breathing ' was 'not a fitness issue.' 'I regularly play with mid-20-year-old D1 college players and recently retired pros on a familiar court with no audience with none of the same symptoms,' he insisted. Ackman's awkward excuse came amid a flurry of other posts he made expressing his love for Elon Musk and slamming Democratic mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani as a 'communist.' His failure also came less than a week after he announced on X that he was playing 'the best tennis of my life.'
Daily Mirror
3 days ago
- Sport
- Daily Mirror
Andy Roddick rips apart billionaire and demands tennis match is investigated
Bill Ackman, a 59-year-old billionaire, made his professional tennis debut at the age of 59 on Thursday, with Andy Roddick branding the match "the biggest joke I've ever watched" Former world No. 1 Andy Roddick has launched a scathing attack on the Tennis Hall of Fame and billionaire Bill Ackman after a controversial doubles match at the Hall of Fame Open. Ackman, a 59-year-old hedge fund tycoon with a reported net worth of around the £7billion mark, made his pro tennis debut this week alongside retired star Jack Sock, only to draw sharp condemnation from Roddick, who labelled the match "the biggest joke I've ever watched in professional tennis." Teaming up with Sock – a two-time Wimbledon doubles champion – Ackman received a wildcard to compete against Australians Bernard Tomic and Omar Jasika in an ATP Challenger-level event, which is traditionally meant for young prospects or players returning from injuries. The match, held Thursday in Newport, Rhode Island, was lopsided, as Jasika and Tomic coasted to a 6-1, 7-5 win in just over an hour. Footage shared widely online showed Ackman struggling with fundamental strokes, committing double faults and looking thoroughly outmatched, sparking widespread outrage. During his Quick Served podcast, Roddick was blunt in his criticism and even demanded an official inquiry into the match. "It was a match where it looked like four players were in the bag," the American, 42, said furiously. "Bill Ackman – who has been a massive tennis fan, supporter, funds the PTPA (Professional Tennis Players Association), the whole thing – wanted to play a pro tournament. "You don't give a wildcard to someone who 59 players at my club are better than. I'm on committees for the Hall of Fame. I'm honoured to be part of the Hall of Fame. I have great relationships with people on the Hall of Fame, and you can disagree with people that you have a good relationship with. This was a total miss. "The job of the Hall of Fame is to preserve and celebrate excellence in our sport. This was the biggest joke I've ever watched in professional tennis. Even Tomic… he was serving 50mph to someone. He'd have a sitter and he'd play it softly." Roddick's frustration was echoed across the tennis community. Outraged fans posted their own criticisms, with one likening Ackman's appearance to a 'Make-A-Wish stunt," while another slammed it as a "circus event." Veteran tennis organiser Randy Walker described it as "the absolute worst professional tennis match I've ever seen." Roddick also implied that the level of play was so low that it may have violated the ATP's 'best effort' policy. According to ATP rules, players are required to give full effort on every point, with penalties ranging from steep fines to suspensions if they are found to be slacking. "If there was any sort of review process in tennis... I remember [Nick] Kyrgios got fined for tanking [his performance] one year, because, like, if it's obviously less than your best effort apparently that qualifies," Roddick said. "This match is going to be under review. It has to be. "There was exactly one person on that court trying as hard as they could. One person. If you want to be argue with me, go back and watch that video – you can't tell me there was more than one person trying as hard as they could every point, or any point. It was a disaster. "This was beneath the Hall of Fame, in my opinion. It's nothing personal against Bill Ackman. He can do what he wants. His dream was to do it and someone is going to let him do it. It's not his fault, I don't blame him. Someone has to say yes to this. It was rough. It's the Hall of Fame. That's what's breaking my heart a little bit… it sucks." Mirror Sport has contacted the ATP for an official response. For his part, Ackman acknowledged his nerves got the better of him. Posting on X, he described the match as "humbling" and said he now holds a deeper appreciation for pros who perform under pressure. "Throughout the match, my wrist, arm and body literally froze with the expected negative outcomes," the 59-year-old wrote. "I had difficulty breathing, and it was not a fitness issue. It got a bit better as the match progressed, but I was not able to overcome it." The incident has sparked wider discussion about wealth, access, and fairness in professional tennis. As the fallout continues, Roddick's push for accountability reflects broader concerns about maintaining the sport's credibility.
New York Post
3 days ago
- Business
- New York Post
Tennis legends Andy Roddick, Martina Navratilova sneer at Bill Ackman for playing in pro match: ‘The biggest joke'
Bill Ackman's foray into professional tennis was met with widespread ridicule from legends Andy Roddick and Martina Navratilova after the billionaire finagled his way into a doubles match at the hallowed grounds of the International Tennis Hall of Fame. The 59-year-old hedge fund titan — a skilled amateur who also happens to boast a fortune valued by Forbes at $9.5 billion — teamed up with recently retired ATP pro Jack Sock at the 2025 Hall of Fame Open in Newport, RI. The pair were quickly dispatched in straight sets by active pros Bernard Tomic and Omar Jasika in straight sets in Wednesday's first round of the doubles draw. The younger Aussies won 6-1, 7-5 in 67 minutes. Advertisement 4 Bill Ackman, the billionaire hedge fund manager, sparked criticism over the weekend after participating in a professional tennis match. Bloomberg via Getty Images 'A disaster,' former US Open champion Roddick said of the match, adding that it was 'the biggest joke I've ever watched in professional tennis.' Navratilova, who won a total of 59 Grand Slam titles in both, weighed in as well, posting on social media: 'Apparently you can buy yourself a wild card. Oh to have the confidence…' Advertisement Ackman, founder of Pershing Square Capital Management, was able to get into the tournament thanks to a 'wildcard' system that allows entry to players who would otherwise not qualify based on rankings or qualifications. 4 Ackman (seen bottom right) and his doubles partner Jack Sock lost to Omar Jasika and Bernard Tomic in straight sets on Wednesday at the Hall of Fame Open in Newport, RI. ATP Tour Critics argued that Ackman's inclusion, enabled by his wealth and influence rather than merit, undermines the purpose of the system. Randy Walker, the tournament director, didn't mince words, calling it 'the absolute worst tennis match I have ever seen.' Advertisement He criticized the decision to grant Ackman a wildcard, saying it had not been earned through skill or contribution to the game. Ackman, a prolific social media user, did not adress the ciriticism in a lengthy post on X. 'It was a very humbling experience that gives one even more respect for the pros who play for a living in front of the cameras and the crowds,' he wrote Thursday. He attributed his poor performance to a sudden bout of 'stage fright.' Advertisement 'I can speak in front of an audience of a thousand people or in a TV studio on a broad range of topics without any preparation and without a twinge of fear, but yesterday I had my first real experience with stage fright,' he wrote. 4 Andy Roddick the former US Open champion, expressed outrage over Ackman's participation in the tournament. Andy Roddick's Served Media / YouTube 'I found myself on a tennis court in a live-streamed professional tournament with a few hundred in the crowd. Throughout the match, my wrist, arm and body literally froze with the expected negative outcomes. I had difficulty breathing, and it was not a fitness issue. It got a bit better as the match progressed, but I was not able to overcome it.' Ackman's rep told The Post: 'We don't have anything more to add right now.' The backlash over Ackman's appearance extended beyond former players. Veteran tennis journalist Jon Wertheim called it 'wildly inappropriate and lacking in integrity,' especially given the match took place at a sanctioned event that offers ranking points and prize money. Wertheim noted the irony that Ackman is a major financial supporter of the Professional Tennis Players Association (PTPA), an organization dedicated to expanding professional opportunities for tennis players. 4 Martina Navratilova weighed in as well, posting on social media: 'Apparently you can buy yourself a wild card. Oh to have the confidence…' Getty Images for WTA Advertisement Fans and social media users also voiced disapproval, with many describing Ackman's appearance as a 'mockery' and a 'publicity stunt.' Glenn Greenwald, the Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and avid tennis fan, slammed Ackman on X, writing that he 'used his vast wealth to worm his way into a professional, ATP-sanctioned tennis tournament at the Hall of Fame at the age of 59.' 'It'd be as if Bill Gates got the Seattle Mariners to let him be a starting pitcher for their AAA team,' Greenwald wrote, calling Ackman's tournament appearance an exercise in 'pathetic ego-stroking.' The Challenger circuit is considered a lower level of professional tennis akin to minor league baseball. Advertisement Ackman's appearance came as part of the newly restructured Hall of Fame Open, which this year debuted as a combined ATP and WTA Challenger 125 event.
Newsweek
4 days ago
- Business
- Newsweek
Bill Ackman's Abysmal Pro-Tennis Debut Sparks Mockery: 'Biggest Joke'
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Billionaire Bill Ackman has been mocked online following his pro-tennis debut at the Hall of Fame Open doubles tournament in Newport, Rhode Island, with former tennis player Andy Roddick calling it the "biggest joke" he'd seen in the sport. Newsweek has reached out to Ackman via email outside of regular working hours for comment. Why It Matters Ackman, 59, is a hedge fund manager who is the founder and CEO of Pershing Square Capital Management. Forbes currently estimates his net worth at some $9.4 billion. Ackman is known for his philanthropy and was a longtime donor to Democratic organizations and candidates but endorsed President Donald Trump in the 2024 presidential election. Bill Ackman, Founder and CEO, Pershing Square Capital Management, attends the 28th annual Milken Institute Global Conference at the Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, California on May 6, 2025. Bill Ackman, Founder and CEO, Pershing Square Capital Management, attends the 28th annual Milken Institute Global Conference at the Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, California on May 6, 2025. PATRICK T. FALLON/AFP via Getty Images What To Know Ackman played in a doubles game Wednesday with American pro tennis player Jack Sock against Australian pro players Bernard Tomic and Omar Jasika. Ackman is a well-known fan of tennis and is the board chair for the Professional Tennis Players Association. However, he appeared to make numerous mistakes and double faults. He and sock lost the match. Bill Ackman Newport Challenger highlights 🔥 — Keebler Chips Deluxe (@_chipsdeluxe) July 9, 2025 Roddick, the former professional tennis player who previously ranked as the world No. 1 in the men's singles, said on his podcast Served that the game was "the biggest joke I have ever watched in professional tennis." He added that it was "hard to watch," and that it was "breaking my heart a little bit" that it had happened at the Hall of Fame. Part of the criticism stemmed from Ackman, who was entered as a wild card, having potentially been allowed to take the place of a pro tennis player. Roddick's podcast pointed to the match being an ATP Tour challenger, explaining that the event gives players an opportunity to improve and rise through the ranks. What People Are Saying Andy Roddick, former professional tennis player, speaking on his podcast Served: "It [the game] was a disaster.... This was beneath the Hall of Fame, in my opinion. It's nothing personal against Bill Ackman, he can do what he wants. If his dream was to do it and someone's gonna let him do it. I mean, it's not his fault, I don't blame him, right. Someone has to say yes to this.... It was rough." Randy Walker, author and U.S. Open press officer, wrote on X, formerly Twitter: "I just watched the absolute worst professional tennis match I have ever seen...." @DylanDittrich, an author, wrote on X: "Jack Sock is an absolute monster in doubles. At one point in 2018, he was World No. 2. That wasn't enough to drag 59-year-old Bill Ackman across the finish line at the Hall of Fame Open in Newport, RI. But why on earth would it be?!" @tennisweeklypod, a social media account for a tennis podcast, posted on X: "These publicity WCs [wild cards] should not happen. Give spots to players who earn it, not bought their way in." What Happens Next Whether Ackman will continue playing tennis or appear at another pro tennis game remains to be seen.
