Billionaire-turned pro responds to 'brutal' critics: 'First experience with stage fright'

Bill Ackman. (Getty/Michael M. Santiago)

Billionaire investor Bill Ackman is "eternally grateful" for making his ATP Tour debut, but faced a large amount of disapproval from the tennis world.

The 59-year-old partnered American compatriot and former world No.8 Jack Sock at the Newport Open doubles event, which is classified as a grass court Challenger.

They exited the first-round against Australian duo Bernard Tomic and Omar Jasika 1-6, 5-7 in 67 minutes.

Funnily enough, Ackman is helping bankroll the Professional Tennis Players Association (PTPA), which earlier this year filed a lawsuit against the major tennis governing bodies, arguing for more "earning opportunities" for players.

The American hedge fund manager, who is worth US$9.5 billion, summarised his professional debut.

"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 posted on his X account.

"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.

"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.

"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. We forget that they also need to manage the challenges of their carefully examined personal lives, their break ups, their emotions, financial stresses, and their mental health, family, and other challenges.

"Tennis is one of the few sports where the athlete is out there alone in front of the klieg lights for hours operating with incredible intensity with barely a bathroom break. And they might have been awakened in the middle of the previous night for a drug test while staying far from home.

"For all but the top players, they also struggle financially as they manage their small businesses working to recruit and retain talent, manage expenses, balance their budgets, and pay their taxes on time.

"Whatever respect we already have for these incredible athletes, it is not enough. They deserve more of our applause and appreciation."

He followed up with another post concerning the negative online reaction.

"The press on my professional debut has been brutal, and indeed, it was not my best showing," Ackman acknowledged.

"From the press, however, most people likely assumed the score was 6-1, 6-1, and the first set was indeed a blowout.

"Some make much of the fact that it was over in about an hour without noting that Challenger doubles are no-ad with a tie breaker in lieu of the third set, and are typically completed in less than an hour.

"All of that said, the second set went much better than the first. I held one of my serves and we were up a break 4-3 with three break points to break again at 15-40."

2003 US Open champion Andy Roddick was filthy at the tournament's decision to hand Ackman a wildcard, describing the match as "bulls**t".

"This was the biggest joke I've watched in professional tennis," he said on his podcast, Served with Andy Roddick.

"This was beneath the Hall of Fame (tournament name), and it's nothing personal against Bill Ackman; he can do what he wants. If his dream was to do it and someone is going to let him do it... I mean... it's not his fault. I don't blame him. Someone has to say yes to this."

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