How a group of spectators in bee costumes inspired Carlos Alcaraz to Indian Wells win

Sam Cooper 12 Mar 2025 12:58 PM

Carlos Alcaraz and a group of fans dressed as bees

There’s a real buzz around Carlos Alcaraz at Indian Wells…

Carlos Alcaraz was reunited with a familiar foe when a group of spectators dressed up as bees in his latest Indian Wells win.

The Spaniard, alongside Alexander Zverev, had his 2024 match at the venue suspended when a colony of bees descended on the California court.

Their quarter-final match of the ATP Masters 1000 clash was suspended for nearly two hours after bees showed up during just the third game with them taking a particular liking to a flustered Alcaraz.

As well as the eventual winner, the bees took an interest in the spider cam and began to swarm on it, forcing the players to head back into the locker room while a local beekeeper was called in to deal with the stinging winged insects.

The beekeeper Lance Davis, with no reduction gear and armed only with a hoover, sucked up the bees so play could continue.

A year on, there was no repeat of the incident but Alcaraz was given a playful reminder when a group of spectators arrived dressed up as the insects.

“I can’t escape,” he said about the fans. “It was a funny moment. I took a second out there.

“It is funny, because, I mean, it helped me a lot because during the whole first set, I was looking at them and laughing.

“And I always say that when I [am] laughing, when I [am] having fun on the court, I show good tennis.”

Alcaraz revealed he did not spot the fans until the second game of his tie against Denis Shapovalov but made sure to take a picture with them after the game which he later posted on his Instagram.

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“I didn’t realise until the second game, the camera put them on the screen. So it was funny. As I said, I took a selfie with them at the end, because I think they deserve it.”

Alacarz’s straight-sets win over Shapovalov sees him continue his quest for a third-straight Indian Wells title with a round of 16 match against Grigor Dimitrov to come.

In his victory against Shapovalov, Alcaraz said he knew he had to start well in order to not let his opponent settle.

“I had to start the match really strong, knowing it was going to be a really tough battle,” the 21-year-old said. “Just really happy that I was able to do it.

“Denis is a great player. He’s been playing really good tennis lately. He started the season really strong with really powerful shots.

“So I’m just really pleased about my performance today, about everything I have done.”