Tennis stars Katie Boulter and Alex de Minaur find themselves in the midst of escalating violence in Mexico ahead of their ATP and WTA tournament matches.
Drug Lord Death Sparks Nationwide Unrest
Violence erupted across Mexico following the death of Nemesio ‘El Mencho’ Oseguera Cervantes, the leader of the Jalisco New Generation (CJNG) cartel. Cervantes, long Mexico’s most wanted fugitive, died during a military operation in Tapalpa, located 450 miles up the coast from Acapulco. Cartel members retaliated by torching vehicles, erecting roadblocks, and clashing with security forces in eight states.
Players Gear Up Despite Turmoil
Boulter prepares to face Beatriz Haddad Maia on Tuesday in Merida, Yucatan, while de Minaur takes on Patrick Kypson the same day in Acapulco. Other top competitors, including Alexander Zverev, Cameron Norrie, Emma Navarro, and Ann Li, also compete in these events.
Announcer Calls for Immediate Evacuation
Tennis announcer Brett Haber, who recently departed Mexico, highlighted the dangers on X. “Just left Mexico. Police activity at the airport was insane,” he posted. He urged the ATP, WTA, and Indian Wells owner Larry Ellison to arrange flights: “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.”
Players Project Calm on Social Media
Despite the unrest, Boulter and de Minaur appeared composed on social media Monday. De Minaur shared Instagram photos captioned “Sassy Sunday in Acapulco,” showing training sessions and golf. Boulter posted a training image and a photo from a golf course commercial shoot.
Government Warnings and Travel Disruptions
The US State Department issued shelter-in-place alerts for US citizens in Jalisco, Tamaulipas, and parts of Michoacan, Guerrero, and Nuevo Leon. Canada advises avoiding non-essential travel to numerous areas due to high violence levels. The UK Foreign Office recommends against travel within Mexico.
Flights to Puerto Vallarta and Guadalajara faced diversions and cancellations. Guadalajara, a host for this summer’s World Cup starting in 108 days, now faces heightened security concerns.
