Alcaraz shrugs off stings and swarm of bees to dispatch Zverev at Indian Wells

Defending champion Carlos Alcaraz moved into a semi-final clash with Jannik Sinner at Indian Wells after fleeing a swarm of bees at the start of his quarter-final match with Alexander Zverev.

Second seed Carlos Alcaraz was stung by a swarm of bees during his quarter-final clash at the Indian Wells Masters. The Spaniard recovered to beat Alexander Zverev in straight sets. USA TODAY Sports via Reuters Con - Jayne Kamin-Oncea

The world number two was serving in the third game of the match when the bees descended upon him.

The 20-year-old Spaniard tried swatting them away with his racket but eventually ran for cover after being stung on his forehead.

"I saw some bees around but I thought it was just a few of them, just not too many," said Alcaraz.

"But I saw the sky and there was thousands flying, stuck in my hair, going to me. It was crazy. I tried to stay away from them, but it was impossible."

A beekeeper was called to control the situation and play resumed nearly two hours later. Alcaraz eventually disposed of Zverev 6-3, 6-1.

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"When we stepped on court, there were a few bees in the corner, it was bothering us," said Alcaraz.

"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 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.

"After that, we decided to warm up and I saw that the bees weren't around anymore. I tried not think about them anymore.

"I surprised myself that I stayed focus on the match, not on the bees."

In the other semi-final, fourth seed Daniil Medvedev will take on the local hero Tommy Paul.

Paul, the 17th seed, saw off the ninth seed Casper Ruud in three sets in his quarter-final. Medvedev also needed three sets to dispatch the seventh seed Holger Rune.

In the women's event, top seed Iga Swiatek will take on the 31st seed Marta Kostyuk while the third seed Cori Gauff will play the ninth seed Maria Sakkari.

Gauff, who took to the court after Zverev's match with Alcaraz, said she was relieved to avoid the invasion.

"That's the craziest thing I've ever seen happen at a tennis court.

"Hopefully it will never happen again, at least not to me."