Tennis power couple Katie Boulter and Alex de Minaur are among several international stars currently in Mexico amid escalating violence following the reported killing of notorious drug lord Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, widely known as “El Mencho.”
The pair, who got engaged in December 2024, are scheduled to compete in separate ATP and WTA tournaments this week in Mexico. However, unrest has gripped parts of the country after the death of Oseguera Cervantes, who led the feared Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG).According to Mexico’s defence ministry, the cartel leader was killed during a security operation aimed at arresting him. In response, CJNG members reportedly set vehicles ablaze, erected roadblocks, and clashed with security forces across eight states.
The CJNG has been heavily involved in trafficking methamphetamine and fentanyl into the United States, making it one of the most powerful criminal organisations in the region.Boulter is set to face Beatriz Haddad Maia in her opening match in Mérida, while de Minaur is scheduled to take on Patrick Kypson in Acapulco.
Other top players participating in the tournaments include Alexander Zverev, Cameron Norrie, Emma Navarro, and Ann Li.
Amid the chaos, tennis announcer Brett Haber called on the ATP Tour and the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) to evacuate players from the country.
In a post on X, Haber described heavy police presence at the airport and urged authorities to arrange flights to transport players to safety, suggesting relocation to Indian Wells.The United States Department of State has issued a shelter-in-place warning for U.S. citizens in several affected states, including Jalisco and Tamaulipas, as well as parts of Michoacán, Guerrero, and Nuevo León.
Meanwhile, the Canadian government has advised its citizens to avoid non-essential travel to multiple regions in Mexico due to high levels of violence and organised crime.
The situation continues to evolve, raising concerns over player safety as the tournaments move forward under heightened security.
