Acapulco turns to Mexican Open in the wake of Hurricane Otis

When the first serve is delivered Monday at the 2024 Mexican Open in Acapulco, it will come exactly four months and a day after it seemed certain the tennis tournament would not come to pass.

In a 12-hour-period beginning on the evening of Oct. 24, Hurricane Otis strengthened from a tropical storm to a Category 5, sustaining winds of over 165 mph as it made landfall in the Mexican state of Guerrero on the country’s Pacific coastline. Otis collided head on with Acapulco, causing dozens of deaths and billions in destruction while creating an ongoing humanitarian crisis in the region.

Arena GNP Seguros, which seats more than 10,000 and has put on the Mexican Open since 2022, sustained severe flooding in the playing area. Outside the structure, twisted metal and loose debris were littered throughout. Court 2 was heavily damaged, with an entire flank of seating collapsing in the wake of the storm.

In the days following the hurricane, organizers discussed the possibility of moving the tournament altogether, noting not just damage to the sporting complex but to most of Acapulco’s hotels and the city’s international airport, which remained closed for weeks after Otis.

However, when Acapulco was officially confirmed in December as the host of this year’s Mexican Open, a mad dash was on to have a tennis tournament serve as the city’s reintroduction to the world. A statement released on X relayed organizers’ optimism at the prospect of showcasing the “emblematic city,” calling the event’s return a significant milestone in its reconstruction and revitalization.

“By hosting the tournament in Acapulco,” the organizing committee wrote. “We’re not just supporting tennis, but generating a positive impact on the local economy and the community… Acapulco is still standing.”

A bright spot in turbulent times

Rafael Nadal, who has won four Mexican Open singles finals and 22 Grand Slam titles, expressed his dismay at the scenes coming from Acapulco through an Instagram post.

“I am saddened by the images of destruction from Hurricane Otis in the place where I played so many times,” Nadal wrote.

With its sun-soaked beaches and year-long warm temperatures, Acapulco was a premier destination during most of the 20th century. John F. Kennedy honeymooned there. Frank Sinatra referenced the area while crooning “Come Fly With Me.” Elvis Presley’s 1963 film “Fun in Acapulco,” though filmed in Hollywood, remains a testament to…