The double reigning champion, Carlos Alcaraz, had a fun flashback in Indian Wells on Monday thanks to a group of fans dressed in bees – tribute to his match which was interrupted by a swarm of insects last year.
A group of ten fans wore yellow and black striped costumes and made Alcaraz buzzing during its 6-2, 6-4 victory on Denis Shapovalov.
The Spaniard said he had spotted them when they were shown on the large dashboard.
“It helped me a lot because you know throughout the first set, I was watching them and I laughed,” he said with a big smile. “And I always say that when I laugh, when I have fun on the field, I show good tennis.
“So, probably thanks to them, I could show good tennis,” added Alcaraz, who said he had first read the group in the second match of the match.
“It was funny. I took a selfie with them at the end, because I think they deserve it.”
Last year, Alcaraz’s quarter -final against Alexander Zverev was abruptly interrupted while the teeming bees led the players of Stadium Court.
Alcaraz was stung, swinging the alarm insects before looking for a shelter.
The bees invaded the remote control “CAM” and the spider chair and the referee’s chair and there was a period of 45 minutes before the bee goalkeeper, launched Davis, is scored and sucked up the bees to release them elsewhere, allowing the match to continue.
Davis’ work had already been noted this year – he carried out the drawing of ceremonial currency before the opening match of Alcaraz.
“When I saw him, I laughed,” said Alcaraz. “It was funny.”
BB / RCW
