Published On: Sat, Feb 21st, 2026

Tennis players run for cover after bees invade stadium in chaotic scene

Australia's Talia Gibson and India's Sahaja Yamalapalli sprinted off the court in the middle of their second-round match after a swarm of bees invaded the stadium during the W100 Bengaluru Open in India on Thursday, February 19, 2026.
Australia's Talia Gibson and India's Sahaja Yamalapalli sprinted off the court in the middle of their second-round match after a swarm of bees invaded the stadium during the W100 Bengaluru Open in India on Thursday, February 19, 2026.

Australian top seed Talia Gibson and India’s Sahaja Yamalapalli sprinted off the court in the middle of their second-round match at the W100 Bengaluru Open on Thursday after a swarm of bees invaded the stadium.

Both tennis players paused play as a ball boy pointed at the insects across the court at S.M. Krishna Tennis Stadium in India and alerted the umpire.

Gibson and Yamalapalli, as well as the ball boy and ball girl, ran for cover.

The umpire hurried down from the chair and followed them to safety.

Other photos show spectators fleeing from their seats amidst the chaos.

A ball boy is seen pointing at a swarm of bees invading the stadium during the second-round match between Australia’s Talia Gibson and India’s Sahaja Yamalapalli during the W100 Bengaluru Open on February 19, 2026.
Australia’s Talia Gibson and India’s Sahaja Yamalapalli sprinted off the court in the middle of their second-round match after a swarm of bees invaded the stadium during the W100 Bengaluru Open in India on Thursday, February 19, 2026. ITF

The ITF Women’s World Tour match was temporarily suspended for 20 minutes.

Gibson went on to win in straight sets, 6-0, 6-0, to advance to the quarterfinals.

The stadium is located within Cubbon Park, which has over 8,000 trees spread across nearly 200 acres.

Talia Gibson of Australia at the 2026 Australian Open at Melbourne Park in January 2026. Getty Images
Sahaja Yamalapalli of India in action during the Billie Jean King Cup playoffs in Bengaluru, India, in November 2025. NurPhoto via Getty Images

Earlier this month, Gibson won her first title of the season, defeating Nao Hibino, 6-3, 7-6, in the final at W75 Brisbane.

Yamalapalli is currently India’s No. 1 women’s singles tennis player.

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