It is not every day a tennis match is stopped due to a swarm of bees but that is exactly what happened during Carlos Alcaraz’s clash with Alexander Zverev in Indian Wells.
Just nine minutes into their quarter-final encounter, play was stopped after hundreds of bees descended upon the stadium court. Alcaraz was stunned on the side of his forehead before proceedings ended up being suspended for an hour and 40 minutes.
“For sure the most unusual match I have ever played in my career,” Alcaraz said during his press conference.
“I saw some bees around, but I thought it was just a few of them. But I saw the sky and there were thousands flying, stuck in my hair, going to me.
“It was crazy. I tried to stay away from them, but it was impossible.
“I’m a little bit afraid of them. I had to stay safe, and I was running everywhere.”
Indian Wells managed to beat the bee invasion thanks to the work of beekeeper Lance Davis, who has found himself in the limelight with photos of him on social media being published by the likes of Alcaraz and actor Ben Stiller. In an interview with atptour.com, Davis said he has been at the tournament for the past five days removing swarms and estimated that there was “a small swarm, probably about 3,500” bees.
When play resumed, Alcaraz was unfazed by what happened as he stormed to a comprehensive 6-3, 6-1, win over Zverev.
“I tried to not think about the bees anymore. I tried to stay focused on the ball and stay focused on the point,” he said.
“It was a really important game for me. I surprised myself that I stay focused on the match, not on the bees.”
Alcaraz is now set for a mouthwatering showdown with the in-form Jannik Sinner who has won 19 consecutive matches and is yet to be beaten this year. The Italian eased his way past Jiri Lehecka 6-3, 6-3.
At stake in the upcoming match will not only be a place in the final, but the winner will also seal the No.2 ranking. A position currently held by the Spaniard.
“He’s the best tennis player in the world right now, without a doubt,” Alcaraz said in tribute to Sinner.
“He’s playing unbelievable, no losses this year. I enjoy watching him play. So it’s going to be a really difficult match. It’s going to be a big challenge for me’
“I think the last two matches that I have played against him I lost, so I have to adjust a little bit my game and let’s see how it’s gonna be. But for sure it’s gonna be the most difficult match that I played this year.”
Alcaraz currently trails Sinner 3-4 in their head-to-head.
