The Indian Wells Open suspended play due to an overwhelming ‘bee invasion’ on the court

A cavalcade of bees — yes, bees — descended upon a tennis tournament in California and caused some hilarious chaos in the process.

On Thursday, the Indian Wells Open — held near Joshua Tree National Park in California — had to be delayed due to a “bee invasion” in the middle of a match. Play was halted as the bees swarmed a piece of camera equipment in the middle of the court then descended upon the players — Alexander Zverev and Carlos Alcaraz — and the on-court staff mere moments later.

Seriously, the amount of bees that swarmed the court is truly comical, so much so that the camera footage nearly makes them look like falling snow

Carlos Alcaraz vs. Bees

Advantage, bees. #TennisParadise pic.twitter.com/2fLBWHKYyi

— Tennis Channel (@TennisChannel) March 14, 2024

You cannot BEE serious, man @BNPPARIBASOPEN | #TennisParadise pic.twitter.com/bcahPY3ROg

— ATP Tour (@atptour) March 14, 2024

Umpire: “Play is suspended due to bee invasion.”
Never seen this before. The bees have landed on Spidercam and they are raising it out of the stadium in the hope the bees go with it. pic.twitter.com/uR1GGKLVR3

— Neil McMahon (@NeilMcMahon) March 14, 2024

Okay this is a first at a match I have been at. Bee attack! I think the spider cam is their leader. @BNPPARIBASOPEN pic.twitter.com/HZW6KpvoZA

— LaWanda (@lawanda50) March 14, 2024

The delay lasted for an hour before a presumed member of the staff was able to vacuum up the bees and corral the invasion.

An American hero #IndianWells | #TennisParadise pic.twitter.com/91owMnJoNi

— BNP Paribas Open (@BNPPARIBASOPEN) March 14, 2024

Still, that was so many bees!!