(Video) Carlos Alcaraz smiles from ear to ear as he faces another ‘bee invasion’ during Indian Wells match

'Bees' have grown attached to Carlos Alcaraz and motivated him to power past Denis Shapovalov in the Indian Wells third-round match.

(Video) Carlos Alcaraz smiles from ear to ear as he faces another ‘bee invasion’ during Indian Wells match

Carlos Alcaraz (Image via ATP/X)

ATP World No.3 Carlos Alcaraz didn’t expect to face another bee invasion at Indian Wells. Last year, his quarterfinal match against Alexander Zverev was halted for nearly two hours because countless bees swarmed the stadium.

This time, however, a group of fans recreated that bee invasion during his third-round match against Denis Shapovalov on Monday (March 10). They donned black and yellow striped outfits and cheered Alcaraz from the stands. When Alcaraz noticed them, he flashed his vintage smile.

YouTube video

Watch the video here:

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Carlos faces another IW bee invasion during a match
byu/theriverjordan intennis

Alcaraz reunited with Lance Davis– the beekeeper who rescued the Spaniard from the bees last year- during this year’s Indian Wells opener against Quentin Halys. He couldn’t help himself laughing when he met Davis, who had performed the customary coin toss before the match.

About his third-round match, Alcaraz registered a comprehensive 6-2, 6-4 win over the Canadian ace to extend his winning streak to 14 matches at Indian Wells. He is a two-time defending champion and is bidding to become the first player born in 1991 or later to complete a three-peat in a tournament on the ATP Tour.

Carlos Alcaraz credits ‘human bees’ for helping him win the match easily

Carlos Alcaraz produces his best tennis when he’s not dealing with nerves. The fans who were dressed as bees created a fun atmosphere, which helped Alcaraz breeze into the fourth round.

Carlos Alcaraz (4)
Carlos Alcaraz (Image via ATP/X)

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. So [it’s] probably thanks to them [that] I could show good tennis. I didn’t realize until the second game, the camera put them on the screen. So it was funny.

Carlos Alcaraz said at the press conference

The 21-year-old will face Grigor Dimitrov next. The Bulgarian, who dislocated his thumb, had to battle it out against Gael Monfils to secure a spot in the fourth round.

The four-time Grand Slam champion has met Dimitrov five times and is 3-2 in the head-to-head encounter. They last faced each other in the 2024 Miami Open quarterfinals, which the 33-year-old won in straight sets.

If Alcaraz reaches the final and wins the title, he will join Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer in the list of ATP players with three consecutive titles in the California desert. Alcaraz is also chasing his second title of the season after lifting his career’s first title in an indoor hard-court tournament in Rotterdam.