Acapulco: Tournament will “go on as scheduled” despite cartel violence, organizers say

The Abierto Mexicano Telcel will “go on as scheduled” this week in Acapulco, organizers said, as a wave of violence rocks the nearby state of Jalisco.

Tournament organizers issued a statement on Sunday denying the reports of a possible postponement or even total cancelation that circulated on social media over the weekend, following the Mexican army’s killing of the leader of the country’s most powerful drug cartel in a move that sparked violent clashes across multiple states.

“The Abierto Mexicano Telcel reports that the rumors circling in the press and on social media about the tournament’s supposed cancelation due to the security issues in Jalisco are false,” organizers said in a statement shared to the tournament’s official social media pages.

“The tournament has not issued any cancellation notice. The event will go on as scheduled and tournament operations will proceed as normal.

“We remain in coordination and in constant communication with federal, state and municipal authorities, following the established security protocols.”

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According to the Associated Press, the violence erupted after the Mexican army killed Nemesio Ruben Oseguera Cervantes “El Mencho,” the leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG), during an operation to capture him on Sunday. The cartel reportedly has an estimated 19,000 members operating in 21 of Mexico’s 32 states, and was designated a foreign terrorist organization by the U.S. in 2025.

The ensuing violence included burned vehicles as cartel members reportedly blocked roads at more than 250 points across 20 states—a tactic used to impede military operations. Videos shared on social media showed Guadalajara, the country’s second-largest city, and tourist hotspot Puerto Vallarta under lockdown.

The State Department advised U.S. citizens and tourists to shelter in place until further notice, issuing a security alert for the states of Jalisco, Tamaulipas, Michoacan, Nuevo Leon and Guerrero—where Acapulco is located.

Security concerns also led to the cancellation of four soccer matches on Sunday, including two in the top-tier Liga MX and Liga MX Femenil. Several Mexican and international airlines also canceled flights.

In Acapulco—which is about 500 miles or roughly 10 hours away by car from Guadalajara—tennis fans reported an increased security presence at the GNP Seguros Arena. Businesses near the venue reportedly closed early on Sunday, the final day of qualifying.

Main draw action began on Monday, with players taking the court as scheduled starting at 4:00 p.m. local time. The tournament successfully hosted Kid’s Day, while player activities like Media Day and the traditional White Party have also proceeded without incident.

Top seeds include world No. 4 Alexander Zverev, two-time champion Alex de Minaur and Casper Ruud, while American players Frances Tiafoe, Brandon Nakashima and Patrick Kypson also feature in the draw. The Acapulco event is a favorite among players, who voted it the Best ATP 500 Event on three occasions, in 2007, 2017 and 2019.

Meanwhile, the WTA 500 event in Merida, Yucatan, located about 1,100 miles away from Guadalajara in southern Mexico and featuring Emma Navarro and Jasmine Paolini as top seeds, also proceeded as scheduled.