Zverev Fly Incident: Unforgettable Moments from the French Open Quarter-Final
The Zverev fly incident at the French Open quarter-final between Novak Djokovic and Alexander Zverev captured the attention of tennis fans worldwide. Most importantly, this year’s Roland-Garros has already been eventful for Zverev, starting with a lightning-struck flight on his way to Paris. On Wednesday evening at Court Philippe Chatrier, Zverev had an unusual encounter with a fly that added to the drama of the match.
Zverev and the Fly Incident 🐝
During the French Open quarter-final highlights, filled with high-caliber tennis and drama, a peculiar moment unfolded. Zverev, trailing 4-1 in the second set, served an ace. Then, unexpectedly, he bent over, shook his head, and spat twice on the court. Commentator Jim Courier remarked, “That’s an odd reaction after that ace,” during the TNT Sports broadcast.
Because Zverev was overheard jokingly saying, “Swallowed about 50 flies already,” the audience erupted in laughter. Nick Mullins, another commentator, speculated, “I think he might have swallowed a fly,” to which Courier responded, “That’s what I thought I heard him say but I was waiting for you to take a chance on it.” Mullins humorously added, “He needs to swallow a spider.”
Previous Fly Encounters at Roland-Garros
Interestingly, this was not Zverev’s first insect incident at Roland-Garros. Besides that, he had a similar experience during his fourth-round victory over Tallon Griekspoor. Such Roland-Garros unusual moments highlight the unpredictable nature of the tournament.
Zverev’s Eventful Journey to Paris ✈️
Zverev’s journey to the tournament was equally noteworthy. His lightning-struck flight added to the dramatic start of his Roland-Garros experience. Zverev shared, “My trip here was funny because we were supposed to fly on Thursday evening at 6:45 pm.” Because of the lightning strike, they had to make an emergency landing back in Hamburg.
Unable to find another plane immediately, Zverev recounted, “So everybody else flew the next morning. I took another plane around 1 am and arrived here at 3 am.” Reflecting on the experience, he added, “So, that was my trip over. Best story of Roland-Garros so far.”
In conclusion, the Djokovic Zverev match recap not only highlights the competitive spirit of the quarter-final but also the amusing and unexpected incidents that made it unforgettable.