We’re happy to see the ATP tour in Acapulco, Mexico is underway as planned, following the destruction of the whole area when Hurricane Otis hit back in October.
There’s been a 4-month rebuilding of the Arena GNP Seguro (image) since October and over 200 million pesos were spent to restore the arena, according to Mexican newspaper Milenio.
Category 5 Storm
For three days the massive storm Hurricane Otis hit the area in the end of October last year. More than 50 people were killed by the storm and damages counted to over $10 billion USD.
The Mexican organizers (Mextennis) of the popular ATP500 event were quick to confirm though, that they were committed to holding the 2024 edition as planned.
“We work with the community, with our thousands of collaborators and families united by the same cause: moving Acapulco forward.” commented Geoffrey Fernández, Tournament Director
Player Donations
Stefanos Tsitsipas is shortly entering the tournament with his first match against Roman Safiullin and was shocked to see the damage to the area.
The 25-year-old Greek has then pledged to donate $1000 for each ace he does throughout the week in Acapulco. The money will go directly towards the relief efforts by the community, helping those affected by the hurricane.
“I was surprised. I didn’t expect the city to be in such a way. A lot of things, a lot of ruins and a lot of unexpected sort of visuals that I got to witness and see. That are disturbing of course because this city has gone through so much in the last few months,” Tsitsipas told Tennis TV.
He will be eager to lift the trophy this week after having come close both in 2021 and 2022.
Felix Auger-Aliassime is another player involved in the rebuilding, as the Canadian made a difference volunteering to help rebuild a home in one of the nearby neighbourhoods destroyed by the Hurricane.
