Mexican Open venue in Acapulco devastated by second deadly storm in 2 years as Hurricane John ravages tennis stadium for ATP 500 event
A second hurricane in two years has destroyed the tennis facilities in Acauplco, the site for one of the most loved ATP tournaments, the Mexican Open. Hurricane John has ravaged southwestern Mexico, with Acapulco among the worst-hit locations.
Hurricane John has caused massive mudslides and crushed homes in the state of Guerrero, where Acapulco is located and reportedly killed at least 22 people so far. The storm has led to 39 inches of rain and flooded the Arena GNP Seguros, the tennis facility that hosts the ATP 500 Mexican Open in late February.
Images shared on social media show water flooded inside the three big tennis courts at Arena GNP Seguros (Estadio, Grandstand, and Court 1), and seating collapsed, leaving the tennis facility in a poor state and putting the future of the tournament's 2025 edition in jeopardy. This is the second year in a row that Arena GNP Seguros has been left devasted by natural calamity.
In October 2023, Hurricane Otis, a category 5 storm, intensified over the Pacific coast and left nearly 50 people dead and caused $15 billion in damages. Like John, Otis also devasted the tennis facilities that hosted the Mexican Open, but authorities were able to reconstruct the stadiums in time for the 2024 edition.
In a press conference in early September, tournament organizers confirmed that the 2025 Mexican Open in Acapulco will be played from February 24 to March 1. Several stars, including Alexander Zverev, Casper Ruud, Tommy Paul, Ben Shelton, and Holger Rune, are expected to play at the tournament next year.
Rafael Nadal is the most successful tennis player in Mexican Open history
The Mexican Open has been a mainstay on the ATP Tour calendar since 1993. It was an ATP 250 tournament in its early years and was upgraded to the 500 category in 2000. Rafael Nadal is among the three most successful players in Mexican Open history with four titles (2005, 2013, 2020, 2022). David Ferrer (2010–2012, 2015) and Thomas Muster (1993–1996) are the other two players with four Mexican Open titles.
Alex de Minaur is the reigning champion at the ATP 500 tournament. The Australian has won two Mexican Open titles in a row, defeating Tommy Paul and Casper Ruud in the finals in 2023 and 2024, respectively. On the doubles side, Hugo Nys and Jan Zielinski are reigning champions.
Other notable Mexican Open champions over the years include Alexander Zverev (2021), Juan Martin del Potro (2018), and Dominic Thiem (2016). On the women's side, Acapulco has not hosted a WTA Tour-level tournament since 2020.