INDIAN WELLS, California – Carlos Alcaraz surprised himself by staying focused despite being stung on the forehead, after the Spaniard’s Indian Wells quarter-final clash against Germany’s Alexander Zverev on March 14 was interrupted by a swarm of bees.
The world No. 2 was serving in the third game of the match when the bees descended upon him. The 20-year-old tried swatting them away with his racket but eventually ran for cover after being stung.
Alcaraz, who emerged with a 6-3, 6-1 victory to keep his title defence on track, said the bees were all over him.
“For sure the most unusual match I have ever played in my career. I saw some bees around but I thought it was just a few of them, just not too many,” he said.
“But then 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.”
Play was suspended and resumed after 1hr 48min, during which a beekeeper was called to control the situation.
“When we stepped on court, there were still a few bees in the corner, it was bothering us,” Alcaraz added.
“We couldn’t start playing again. When we decided to warm up a bit to see how it goes, I was hitting some balls and seeing some bees around me.
“I’m not going to lie, I’m a little bit afraid of bees. I couldn't stay focused on the ball, I was focused on the bees and tried to (keep them) away.
“That’s why we stopped a few more times before the match began again.
“When I saw that the bees weren’t around any more. I tried not think about them. I surprised myself that I stayed focused on the match, not on the bees.”
Alcaraz’s win meant he made a beeline to the semi-finals, where he will face Australian Open champion Jannik Sinner.
There was no insect trouble for the 22-year-old Italian at his court but he created a buzz with his 19th straight win, after seeing off Czech Jiri Lehecka 6-3, 6-3.
Sinner’s run stretches back through the 2023 Davis Cup finals and includes a perfect 16-0 record in 2024.
“For sure I’m happy about the performance,” he said. “There was not so much rhythm today, so you know, it’s a little bit different kind of match-up.
“But for sure I’m really happy about the performance and happy to be back here in the semi-finals.”
Sinner will be out to turn the tables on Alcaraz, who beat him at the same stage last season on the way to the title.
The fourth-ranked Daniil Medvedev, runner-up to Alcaraz, progressed with a 7-5, 6-4 win over seventh-ranked Dane Holger Rune.
The Russian will play American Tommy Paul, who defeated ninth-ranked Norwegian Casper Ruud 6-2, 1-6, 6-3. REUTERS, AFP
