How Mexican cartel violence could impact Demon, Aussie players

Alex de Minaur and a group of fellow Australian tennis players competed in Acapulco on Tuesday despite ongoing violence across Mexico after the death of the country’s most wanted drug lord.

Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes – known as “El Mencho” – died in a military raid on Monday (AEDT), sparking widespread violence, including 25 members of Mexico’s national guard military police being killed in retaliation.

The Jalisco New Generation drug cartel, one of the country’s most powerful criminal organisations, has been involved in gun shootouts with the Mexican military, blocked roads and burned vehicles in response.

The Australian government issued updated travel advice for visitors to Mexico, warning “serious security incidents have been reported across the state of Jalisco, including in Guadalajara and Puerto Vallarta, following a federal law-enforcement operation against organised crime”.

The Mexican Open is in Guerrero, one of five Mexican states where the United States government has warned its citizens to shelter due to the violence.

De Minaur won back-to-back Acapulco titles in 2023 and 2024 and returned as the No.2 seed after winning the Rotterdam Open barely a week ago. But he suffered a shock 6-1, 6-7 (4-7), 7-6 (7-4) loss to 103rd-ranked American qualifier Patrick Kypson in the first round on Tuesday.

Germany’s Alexander Zverev is the top seed.

Countrymen Tristan Schoolkate, James Duckworth, Adam Walton, Rinky Hijikata and Bernard Tomic are also at the tournament. Hijikata and Tomic lost in qualifying, and Schoolkate also exited on Tuesday.

Australia’s Davis Cup physiotherapist Dalibor Bendzala is there as well, but not in a Tennis Australia capacity. Bendzala is working with Monaco’s Valentin Vacherot at the tournament.

“The tournament and ATP have been in constant contact and updating us on the current situation in Mexico,” Bendzala told this masthead.

“They have assured us of extra security to the airport when departing. Security on site had already been strong, and in recent days, has been stepped up and more evident.

“[We have] strong advice not to leave the grounds of the hotel, and routes for transport have even been altered to ensure we don’t need to leave site if not necessary. Otherwise, it feels like a safe cocoon here with many people holidaying and attending the popular tournament.”

The Mexican Open issued a statement, saying suggestions that the event would be cancelled due to security issues in Jalisco were false. Jalisco is located northwest of Acapulco, about 1432 kilometres away.

“The event continues as scheduled and tournament operations are proceeding normally,” the tournament statement said.

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

There is also a WTA tournament in Mexico this week, the Merida Open, where Priscilla Hon, who lost in qualifying, was Australia’s sole representative.

De Minaur’s fiancee, Great Britain’s Katie Boulter, is among the players competing. The event is in the state of Yucatan, which is operating as usual without cartel blockades and with airports still functional.

However, the WTA said there was an increased police presence and additional security measures at the tournament.

Other sports in Mexico have also been affected.

Several soccer matches have already been postponed, while the municipal government of Tlajomulco announced that, as a safety precaution, it was temporarily suspending public events, including the International Horse and Charreria Festival.

There are fears, too, that upcoming World Cup matches, which begin at Estadio Azteca in Mexico City on June 11, could be impacted.

Four World Cup matches are scheduled to be held at Estadio Guadalajara, in Jalisco, but the violence in the region has created uncertainty about whether they will still go ahead.

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