Going Loco in Acapulco. Seriously.

The ATP has reportedly warned players about next week’s tournament in Acapulco, where recent killing sprees have been linked to organised crime.

‘The ATP’s warnings caused a little fear,’ Uruguayan player Pablo Cuevas told the German Press Agency dpa in Buenos Aires.

[...] The ATP asked players, among others, to get to the tournament as late as possible and to leave Acapulco as soon as they can once they are out of the running, Cuevas said.

‘I’ve been hearing a bit about the situation in Acapulco. The ATP informed us by sending us several emails. They acted quite well on that,’ Argentine player Juan Monaco told dpa.

‘They told us that there were problems, that things were not easy there because there have been several kidnappings, murders and that kind of stuff,’ Monaco said.

The Pacific resort city of Acapulco, like other Mexican cities and towns, is frequently the scene of murders and shootouts between rival drug gangs who seek domination of the area to control drug trafficking.

Cuevas noted that he knew of several players who opted out of the tournament.

‘Those who had doubts as to whether or not to go, that was a reason to opt out,’ he said.

Monaco said the ATP advised players to remain as much as possible in the hotel where they are to stay and to play their matches.

‘They told us not to go out,’ he said.

source

Worrying stuff. I’m sure everybody will be fine, but it’s good to see the ATP taking steps to ensure the safety of their people.