Violence in Mexico jeopardizes the Acapulco Open tennis tournament

Even with a lineup boasting Alexander Zverev, Alex de Minaur, Casper Ruud, Frances Tiafoe, and Grigor Dimitrov, the Acapulco Open faces uncertainty, as escalating violence in Mexico raises concerns about player and fan safety.

Organizers have confirmed that the 2026 Mexican Open will proceed, rejecting rumours of cancellation, yet the alarming security situation in Jalisco has prompted players and commentators to call for caution and immediate protective measures.

And that’s why the Tennis Channel‘s analyst Brett Haber implores both the ATP and WTA to relocate competitors, noting dangerous conditions.

“Just left Mexico,” Haber posted online. “Police activity at the airport was insane. Polite suggestion to the @atptour & @WTA- and to Larry Ellison:

“Get one plane to Acapulco and one to Merida and get everybody out of there – and put them up for an extra week at Indian Wells to train and be safe.

“This is not a drill.”

But in response, the Abierto Mexicano clarified, “That the statement circulating in some media outlets and on social networks regarding an alleged cancellation of the event due to security issues in the state of Jalisco is false.

“The tournament has issued no cancellation notice. The event is proceeding as planned, and tournament operations are running normally, and we remain in constant coordination and communication with federal, state, and municipal authorities.”

What is happening in Mexico?

The Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG), among Mexico’s most feared criminal organizations, has launched a wave of violence across 20 states following the death of leader Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, also known as El Mencho, sparking panic nationwide.

El Mencho died on Sunday in custody after capture by special forces, who reported he sustained serious injuries in a firefight with his bodyguards and later died while being transported to Mexico City, alongside six killed guards and three wounded soldiers.

In retaliation, cartel members torched vehicles, blocked roads with spikes and nails, and set fire to dozens of businesses, including banks and pharmacies, spreading fear in towns and cities across the cartel’s strongholds.

Locals captured video of smoke rising above Puerto Vallarta, a major tourist destination, while in Guadalajara, airport travellers ran for cover after hearing nearby gunfire, though authorities later confirmed no shots had occurred inside the terminal.

Residents were instructed to stay indoors, leaving streets deserted, as authorities deployed emergency measures reminiscent of 2019, when Sinaloa Cartel violence forced officials to release Ovidio Guzmán López temporarily to avoid further bloodshed.

In Puerto Vallarta, tourists were told to shelter in place, videos showed plumes of black smoke from burning vehicles, and around 300 passengers stranded at the airport were escorted under heavy police protection to safer areas in the city.

The US State Department advised citizens to remain in place across Jalisco, Baja California, Quintana Roo, Guanajuato, Guerrero, Michoacán, Oaxaca, Nuevo León, and Tamaulipas, while the Jalisco governor declared a “code red,” suspending public transport, mass events, and schools.

Authorities reported over 250 road-blocking incidents, noting that most had been cleared, while 25 individuals were arrested for violence or looting, yet tensions remain high, particularly in the CJNG’s core region of Jalisco.