On Thursday, Indian media reported that swarms of honey bees invaded the SM Krishna Stadium during the Bengaluru Open, part of the International Tennis Federation tour. This unexpected incident prompted both the players and the audience to look for safe shelter as officials alerted them to the situation. As a result, the match featuring top-seeded Australian player Tahlia Gibson against Indian player Sahaja Yamalapalli was temporarily halted until everyone had cleared the court.

The SM Krishna Stadium is located in Karnataka's southern region and has recently hosted significant events, including a Davis Cup qualifying match between India and the Netherlands earlier this month. Set within the expansive Cubbon Park, which boasts over 8000 trees spread across nearly 200 acres, the area is not just a venue for sporting events but a habitat that can occasionally attract wildlife such as bees, leading to unexpected interruptions in matches.

After a brief hiatus, the women’s match resumed and concluded with Tahlia Gibson defeating Sahaja Yamalapalli with a decisive score of 6-0, 6-0 in less than one hour. While the incident caused some alarm, it ultimately did not affect the outcome of the match, highlighting the unpredictability of outdoor sports events, particularly in environments rich in natural biodiversity.