Stomach Bug Disrupts Acapulco’s Mexican Open, Alters Tournament Landscape

Food poisoning is no joke! I had always heard horror stories from friends and family traveling to Bali, Indonesia, accidentally drinking tap water or indulging in street food that had been sitting out too long, only to fall victim to the dreaded "Bali Belly." They would spend the rest of their trips confined to their hotel bathrooms, praying for relief and no shortage of toilet paper.

I had never experienced such a nightmare myself—until a trip to Costa Rica in 2023. Three days of white-water rafting on the Pacuare River in the Costa Rican jungle took an unexpected turn when I came down with severe food poisoning. My tour guide resorted to chopping up a local plant with a machete, boiling it into a tea, and handing me a liter to drink. I spent the next six hours lying on my makeshift deathbed—the raft—until we made it back down the river to town.

Now that I can truly empathize with the players suffering in Acapulco, let’s dive in.

Stomach Virus Hits the 2025 Mexican Open

The 2025 Mexican Open in Acapulco has been significantly impacted by an outbreak of a stomach virus, forcing multiple top-seeded players to withdraw or retire mid-match. Reports from Reuters and Tennis Channel confirm that the illness has affected several competitors, raising concerns about health and safety measures at the tournament.

Top Seeds Affected

Among those forced to withdraw was second seed Casper Ruud, who pulled out before his scheduled match against Rodrigo Pacheco Méndez due to illness. Ruud later addressed his withdrawal on social media, expressing disappointment and thanking fans in for their support.

Third seeded American Tommy Paul was also struck by the virus, leading to his withdrawal and allowing Marcos Giron to advance without playing. Meanwhile, fourth seed Holger Rune attempted to compete but was forced to retire early in his match against Brandon Nakashima, trailing 3-0 in the first set. Rune later confirmed he had suffered from food poisoning, calling the situation "frustrating and disappointing."

Further Tournament Disruptions

The tournament has also seen unexpected upsets:

• Top seed Alexander Zverev lost to 18-year-old American Learner Tien in straight sets.
• Fifth seed Ben Shelton was eliminated by David Goffin.
• Seventh seed Frances Tiafoe was defeated by Alejandro Davidovich Fokina.

While not all of these exits have been linked to the stomach virus, the wave of withdrawals and upsets has reshaped the tournament, creating opportunities for lower-seeded players.

Unclear Source of the Outbreak

As of now, tournament organizers have not released an official statement regarding the cause of the illness. However, speculation suggests that contaminated food or water could be responsible. Reports from Reuters indicate that multiple players experienced symptoms consistent with foodborne illness.

This incident has sparked discussions about the need for stricter health and safety measures at international sporting events, particularly those held in warm climates where foodborne illnesses can spread more easily.

What’s Next for the Mexican Open?

Despite the disruptions, the tournament continues with an altered competitive landscape. With several top seeds out, lower-ranked players now have a unique opportunity to make deep runs in the tournament.

For fans, the unexpected developments have added an element of unpredictability. However, the hope remains that affected players recover quickly and that tournament organizers take necessary precautions to prevent similar issues in the future.

Semi Final action gets underway tonight with Tomas Machac taking on Brandon Nakashima, followed by Denis Shapovalov and Alejandro Davidovich Fokina.

Jake Scudder

Journalist - topics of tennis