Barehanded Bee-Whisperer Saves Indian Wells Tennis Tournament

INDIAN WELLS, CA — The buzz about Thursday's quarterfinal matchup between Spain's Carlos Alcaraz and Germany's Alexander Zverev at the Indian Wells BNP Paribas Open was about more than just killer groundstrokes.

A bee swarm added to the tennis action.

Just two games into the highly anticipated contest bees took over Stadium 1 at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden, forcing a nearly two-hour match delay.

"Play cannot continue. We'll pause for a while," a smiling Chair Umpire Mohamed Lahyani told fans gathered in the stadium.

Watch the bee invasion below:

Lance Davis of Killer Bee Live Removal swooped in and saved the day, sans gloves or a beekeeper's suit.

ATPTour.com interviewed Davis after the episode. He explained that he had been at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden for the past five days removing swarms.

"My truck was actually being worked on at Palms To Pines Automotives in Palm Desert. I was in Palm Springs on an estimate with my personal truck," Davis said. "I had to go drive over to Palms To Pines Automotives and get my truck. They were just starting to work and I went, 'No, put it back together. I've got to go. I've got an emergency call!'"

Like a Marvel Comics superhero, Davis rushed to the scene and fearlessly gathered the bees barehanded.

"I had my equipment set up and I vacuumed up the bees into a live-catch cage," Davis said. "Then I can take them out ... and release them into one of my hives that I have"

It was a small swarm, probably about 3,500 bees, Davis said.

Play resumed after the cleanup. Alcaraz won the match handily, 6-3 6-1.

After the solid victory, World #2 Alcaraz told reporters, "For sure, it is the most unusual match I have ever played in my career. I’ve never experienced something like that. I’ve never seen something like that.

"I think I will remember that match because of that. I think everybody will remember this situation, and we found it a funny thing, that’s for sure," the 20-year-old continued.

Later, the Spaniard posted on X, "Not all heroes wear capes."