Chaos briefly took over the court on Wednesday at the ITF Bengaluru Open after a sudden swarm of bees forced players and officials to abandon play mid-match.
The unusual incident occurred on February 19 at the S.M. Krishna Tennis Stadium in Bengaluru, during a round-of-16 encounter between Australia’s Talia Gibson and India’s Sahaja Yamalapalli.
According to a report by Reuters, a large swarm of honey bees suddenly descended on the court, triggering panic among players, ball kids, and match officials, who scrambled for safety as play was immediately suspended.
Videos shared on X captured the dramatic moment, showing both players dropping their rackets and sprinting off the court while officials attempted to manage the situation. Many fans online described the scene as “wild” and “unbelievable.”
The match was delayed for approximately 20 to 30 minutes as organisers worked to clear the bees and restore calm at the venue. Once play resumed, Gibson quickly took control, sealing a dominant 6-0, 6-0 victory over Yamalapalli to advance to the next round.
Bee invasions are rare in professional tennis, and the bizarre interruption has since become one of the most talked-about moments of this year’s tournament, leaving fans and players alike stunned by the unexpected spectacle.
