International attention has focused on Mexico this week following a high-profile security operation in which the Mexican government carried out a raid that led to the death of cartel leader Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, known as “El Mencho”, the head of one of the country’s most powerful drug cartel organizations. The operation was followed by retaliatory acts of violence by allies of “El Mencho” across more than 20 states, with the most serious disruptions reported in Jalisco, including Puerto Vallarta, a major tourist destination popular with U.S. and international visitors, and Guadalajara, which hosts the Guadalajara Open WTA tournament annually and is also scheduled to stage matches during the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Other regions considered higher risk for retaliatory violence have been identified by the U.S. State Department, including Guerrero state—home to Acapulco—as well as Michoacán, Baja California, and other states that have a history of cartel related violence.
Guerrero State Governor Evelyn Salgado Assures Safety for Tournament
Against this backdrop, Guerrero Governor Evelyn Salgado Pineda addressed security concerns during a press event marking the opening of main-draw play at the Abierto Mexicano de Tenis, ATP Acapulco, held annually in the resort city of Acapulco. Salgado told reporters that conditions in the city remain “calm and safe,” including travel on highways and access roads leading to the tournament venue, and said additional preventive measures had been put in place to ensure a safe and orderly event for players, fans, staff, and local workers. She emphasized that large public events such as the ATP tournament operate under layered security protocols involving federal authorities, the Mexican armed forces, the National Guard, the Mexican navy, and state and municipal police, a structure designed to prioritize deterrence, coordination, and continuity to prevent emergency situations before they arise.
Salgado also highlighted the tournament’s importance to the local economy, describing it as a key driver of tourism and employment in a city still navigating recovery from recent natural disasters and broader economic strain.
“Acapulco is calm, the climate is ideal as well as the gastronomy, we have a natural wealth, but the most beautiful thing that Acapulco has is its people, so we are waiting for you with open arms, come, buy your plane or bus ticket, put gasoline in the car and come immediately to Acapulco. The highway is very good and with the absolute support of the National Guard, Sedena, Navy, all the agencies we are supporting so that this and other events are a success,” said the Governor.
A Tournament Accustomed to Operating Under Pressure
Even before this week’s developments, ATP Acapulco had already navigated significant challenges related to both security and infrastructure. In 2024, El País reported on how Hurricane Otis devastated Acapulco, severely damaging the city’s infrastructure along Mexico’s Pacific coast. The report noted that more than 10,000 National Guard troops were deployed to support safety and logistics as the tournament went ahead, and that at least 11,000 families depend directly on the economic activity generated by the event—an especially significant factor in the aftermath of the storm.
Operationally, the Acapulco tournament functions within a tightly managed bubble environment for players and staff arriving from abroad. Participants are transported directly between the airport, official hotels, and the tournament venue, with limited movement outside secured areas during their stay. While some players may have experienced travel delays linked to broader security disruptions across Mexico, those who arrived will continue to remain within this controlled perimeter as they have in previous years. Over the weekend, authorities expanded a visibly reinforced security perimeter around Arena GNP Seguros, including armed law enforcement and controlled access points, while tournament organizers reiterated that the event would proceed as scheduled. Despite nearly 15 years of operating under heightened security conditions, there have been no recorded incidents directly affecting players or spectators at the tournament.
Security and Sporting Continuity Across Mexico
ATP Acapulco is not the only major sporting event taking place in Mexico this week. The WTA is holding a tournament in Mérida, in Yucatán state, which has not been subject to any specific security warnings, though both tours have said they continue to monitor national conditions as standard practice. Mexico’s domestic football leagues, including Liga MX and Liga MX Femenil (women’s), experienced limited, localized disruption, with at least one match in each league postponed following security assessments rather than any nationwide suspension of play.
Mexico’s men’s national team remains scheduled to host Iceland in an international friendly in Querétaro, while the country continues preparations for upcoming events including the ATP tournament in Los Cabos this summer, World Cup inter-confederation playoff matches at Estadio Akron and Estadio BBVA, a friendly against Portugal at Estadio Azteca in March, and MLB regular-season games between the Arizona Diamondbacks and San Diego Padres in Mexico City in April.
Taken together, the response to this week’s violence reflects a familiar dynamic in Mexico: localized security challenges addressed through targeted measures rather than broad shutdowns or symbolic cancellations. For international events like ATP Acapulco, the focus is less on projecting perfection than on keeping the economic machinery moving. Tourism, jobs, and local income depend on it, and in a country accustomed to managing risk, the priority remains finding ways to continue rather than reasons to shut down.
Main Photo Credit: Abierto Mexicano de Tenis
