World number two survives a swarm of bees to defeat sixth seed 6-3, 6-1 after two hour delay
\n INDIAN WELLS
\nDefending champion Carlos Alcaraz fought off swarming bees and Alexander Zverev on Thursday to set up a semi-final clash with Jannik Sinner at Indian Wells.
\nWorld number two Alcaraz was stung on the forehead and temporarily forced from the court as a \u201cbee invasion\u201d halted his quarter-final against Germany\u2019s Zverev with just two games completed.
\nHe looked none the worse for wear when play resumed after a delay of almost two hours, polishing off a 6-3, 6-1 victory and avenging a quarter-final loss to Zverev at the Australian Open.
\nSinner powered into the semi-finals with a 6-3, 6-3 victory over Czech Jiri Lehecka pushing his match win streak to 19.
\nSinner\u2019s run stretches back through last year\u2019s Davis Cup finals and includes a perfect 16-0 record in 2024.
\nIn Saturday\u2019s semi-finals he\u2019ll be out to turn the tables on Alcaraz, who beat him at the same stage last year on the way to the title in the California desert.
\nAlcaraz said he never imagined his title defense would find him ducking for cover amid a swarm of bees.
\nHe and Zverev were just two games into their match when the bees overwhelmed proceedings, Alcaraz swatting and swiping at the insects after being stung on the forehead.
\nThe bees swarmed the remote-controlled \u201cspider cam\u201d and Alcaraz and Zverev had already run for cover when chair umpire Mohamed Lahyani announced \u201cLadies and gentlemen, play is suspended due to bee invasion.\u201d
\n\u201cFor sure the most unusual match I have ever played in my career,\u201d he said, recalling that he noticed the bees after winning a point on serve in the third game.
\n\u201cI thought it was just a few of them, not too many,\u201d he said. \u201cBut I saw the sky and there was thousands, thousands flying, stuck in my hair, going to me. It was crazy.
\n\u201cI tried to stay away from them, but it was impossible.\u201d
\nA bee expert was summoned and removed the bees clustered on the aerial camera with a live-capture vacuum.
\nThe players were brought back on court to warm up, although Alcaraz insisted beekeeper Lance Davis get rid of some stragglers around the player chairs and equipment.
\n\u201cI\u2019m not going to lie,\u201d Alcaraz said \u201cI\u2019m a little bit afraid of bees.\u201d
\nBut he had no more trouble \u2014 with the bees or Zverev.
\nHe said he was pleased with how he managed to stay focused during the delay, as well as with his superb return game against the big-serving Zverev.
\nAlcaraz said he played \u201cprobably one of my best return matches that I\u2019ve done in my tennis career.
\n\u201cI put every return in,\u201d said Alcaraz, who has gone from strength to strength as he chases his first title since he vanquished Novak Djokovic at Wimbledon last July.
\nHe can expect a tough challenge against Sinner, who captured his first Grand Slam title in Melbourne and has since lifted the trophy in Rotterdam.
\nIn breezy conditions on court two, Sinner was in firm control, breaking Lehecka early in each set and saving the only break point he faced in the match.
\n\u201cToday was for sure a different situation,\u201d Sinner said. \u201cIn the beginning was windy, but I handled it very well.\u201d
\nFourth-ranked Daniil Medvedev, runner-up to Alcaraz last year, booked a return trip to the semi-finals with a 7-5, 6-4 victory over seventh-ranked Holger Rune of Denmark.
\nMedvedev will play American Tommy Paul, who turned the tables on Casper Ruud with a 6-2, 1-6, 6-3 victory over the ninth-ranked Norwegian.
\nPaul belted 35 winners, saving two break points when serving for the match before clinching it on his second match point.
\n\u201cIt\u2019s awesome,\u201d said Paul, who had dropped four of his five prior meetings with Ruud. \u201cI\u2019m really pumped with how I\u2019m playing.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
World number two survives a swarm of bees to defeat sixth seed 6-3, 6-1 after two hour delay INDIAN WELLS Defending champion Carlos Alcaraz fought off swarming bees and Alexander Zverev on Thursday to set up a semi-final clash with Jannik Sinner at Indian Wells. World number two Alcaraz was stung on the forehead and […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-394098","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","6":"category-sports"},"yoast_head":"\n