Buzzing reunion: Alcaraz 'laughing’ after surprise meeting with Indian Wells beekeeper

One of the strangest moments of the 2024 season came at the BNP Paribas Open, where bees swarmed Stadium 1 during Carlos Alcaraz’s quarter-final clash against Alexander Zverev.

After a 45-minute delay, beekeeper Lance Davis came to the rescue. Davis, the president of Palm Desert's Killer Bee Live Removal, vacuumed bees off the spidercam while not wearing a protective suit.

Davis’ work allowed Alcaraz to eventually return to court and complete victory against the German. Fast forward 12 months and the pair were reunited on Saturday when Davis arrived on court for the coin toss ahead of Alcaraz’s opening match against Quentin Halys. It was a moment that left Alcaraz with a beaming smile.

“It was funny. When I saw him, I was laughing,” Alcaraz said on the meeting in his post-match press conference. “I didn't expect him making the coin toss in the first match. I remember him from last year in the quarter-final with the bees, so it has been a funny thing.”

As the two-time defending champion in Indian Wells, Alcaraz is bidding to become the first player born in 1991 or later to three-peat at an ATP Tour event. The Spaniard made a fast start to his defence against Halys, earning a 6-4, 6-2 win.

The 21-year-old would move to within 435 points of World No. 2 Alexander Zverev if he wins the title in California and would therefore trail the No. 1 player in the PIF ATP Rankings Jannik Sinner by 3,820 points. While the aim in the future is to return to No. 1, Alcaraz is not looking too far ahead.

“It's something that it is in the mind, but I'm not really focusing on it,” said Alcaraz, who has spent 36 weeks at No. 1 in the past. “In every tournament, I just focus on myself. I really want to play good tennis. I am focused on how I can be a better player.

“If I'm doing the right things in every tournament, the No. 1 is going to come after. So if I'm thinking about the No. 1, I have to do good results, I have to win tournaments. If I'm focusing on it just to recover the No. 1, I'm putting extra pressure on myself, which I don't want.”

Second seed Alcaraz will next face Denis Shapovalov on Sunday. The Spaniard is making the most of his rest days at the ATP Masters 1000 event, swapping the racquet for golf clubs when he can.

“The tournament is 12 days, and in the first round we have a day off between matches, so every time I can I will try to play some golf,” Alcaraz said. “We stay in a house that we have pretty easy to play golf, so for me it's really helpful. Every time that I can, I will play.”