Hurricane Otis: Will the Deadly Disaster Affect WTA Finals in Mexico?

The world is currently reeling from shock after watching the images of destruction coming out of one of the most iconic cities in Mexico. Hurricane Otis struck the east coast of the country and caused significant damage to the city of Acapulco, uprooting the lives of many citizens. Along with the damage to the city itself, a prominent tennis stadium has also been damaged due to the flooding caused by the Hurricane. Now, many are hoping that the people of Acapulco get all the help to recover from this natural disaster.

Tennis enthusiasts are also pondering about the status of the WTA Finals, which is set to begin in a few hours, set to be played in Cancun.  

The disaster that subjugated the infamous Arena GNP Seguros in Acapulco

Hurricane Otis is a Category 5 storm, the most powerful to make landfall in the Pacific coast. According to government data, at least 27 people have died, and four have gone missing as a result of the disaster in Acapulco. Furthermore, it has caused billions of dollars in damage, with social media videos sharing the devastation, including flooded streets and wrecked residences.

One of the structures devastated by Hurricane Otis was the tennis court in the Arena GNP Seguros. The Arena GNP Seguros has been heavily impacted by the Hurricane. The tennis court has been submerged in flood water, and the surface is nowhere to be seen. As Mexico tackles the devastation, horrific images of the disaster have circulated on social media.

The shocking images went viral in no time and elicited numerous reactions. Arena GNP Seguros was completed prior to the Abierto Mexicano tennis event in 2022. It was also expected to host basketball games, boxing and wrestling fights, and even concerts. But the state of the stadium now raises a big question about the future.

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The years of extraordinary history that the stadium housed

Although the Arena was finished in 2022, the tennis courts were used for the Mexican Open since 2001. The stadium has seen many iconic moments. Rafael Nadal has a deep connection to the stadium, as he has won the tournament four times. He shared his sadness about the destruction caused.

Along with Rafa’s connection, many other grandiose moments have taken place in the stadium. In 2022, Alexander Zverev had a famous outburst, which caused him to be banned for eight weeks and received a $40,000 fine. In the midst of the heat of the match, he smashed his racket on the umpire’s chair.

Before Zverev tarnished his image in the tournament, he gained undeniable bragging rights in the 2021 Mexican Open. During a point in the semifinal between Zverev and his opponent, an earthquake struck near the stadium. However, the players did not stop, and Zverev became one of the few players who could brag about winning a point during a natural disaster.

This year, we saw another iconic moment taking place in Acapulco. The heat affected many players, and Taylor Fritz succumbed to it as he vomited in between his matches. Additionally, the Australian tennis star Alex De Minaur won his first ATP 500 title in the stadium this year. 

Hurricane Otis’s impact in Cancun

Hurricane Otis has caused damage to one iconic stadium that has witnessed several historic moments. Now, many are wondering what will become of the other tournament, the WTA Finals, which will begin in Cancun soon. The WTA Finals is set to commence in a few hours, but there is no news on whether the venue has been affected by the hurricane. As far as the news goes, Cancun is undamaged. Therefore, the matches will continue as per schedule, and no delays or changes will take place.

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