Overview

• Bill Ackman and Jack Sock lost 6-1, 7-5 to Omar Jasika and Bernard Tomic in their Hall of Fame Open doubles match on July 9.
• Tennis figures including Andy Roddick, Martina Navratilova and tournament director Randy Walker publicly condemned Ackman’s inclusion, calling the match a “disaster” and “the absolute worst.”
• Ackman, a founding backer of the PTPA and chair of its for-profit arm, said he suffered stage fright in a “humbling experience” that deepened his respect for touring pros.
• With the Hall of Fame Open downgraded to Challenger level this year, critics warn that discretionary wildcards risk displacing ranking-driven players.
• Wildcards are intended for returning stars, local prospects or promotional draws, fueling debate over whether wealth-based entries erode tournament integrity.