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2/21/13 3:27 PM | Johan Lindahl
Rafael Nadal may be looking nervously over his shoulder next week as he continues his comeback tour from injury in the danger-zone Mexican city of Acapulco.
Officials are reportedly deploying a massive security force of up to 4,000 for the clay tournament where the Spaniard will headline. For comparison, that figure is several times bigger than the entire police force of the once-tranquil Pacific coast city.
Acapulco has for years been plagued by major drug-gang violence, which has picked up in recent seasons. Only weeks ago, a group of six Spanish women tourists were gang-raped less than 10 kilometers from what will be the fortified and heavily patrolled Princess resort, venue for the tournament.
ATP (and presumably WTA officials) last week sent out strict security guidelines for players at the dual-sex event. The tournament security force is said to come from local, state and federal police. Joining Nadal in the clay lineup are Spanish compatriots David Ferrer and Nicolas Almagro.
Nadal will be playing the event for the first time in eight years as he tries for a comeback after missing more than half a year of play due to continuing knee problems. He is currently on the Mexican island of Cozumel on the Caribbean side of the country, inspecting some property investments.
Tournament officials are, of course, putting the most positive spin on their desperate security situation. "In terms of investment, the state government gives us an amount of money that is no secret and is public, and the city provides logistics, security, infrastructure, etc.," said one. "We are trying to make it a friendly security, so the people who attend do not feel you're in a bunker, in a grave situation," added another.
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