Tuesday night’s U.S. Open quarterfinal match between Grigor Dimitrov and Frances Tiafoe had an unexpected guest on the court, and no, it wasn’t a celebrity – it was an uninvited bug that momentarily stole the spotlight.
In the second set of the match, which ended in a victory for American Tiafoe, play was paused as a ball person scrambled to catch the elusive insect.
The scene was more comedic than chaotic as the ball person first tried to swat the bug out of the air, missing it entirely. What followed was an awkward chase across the court, with the bug hopping and dodging as if it had its own game plan.
After missing again with a stomp attempt, the ball person gave it another shot, but the bug slipped through his fingers, quite literally. A second ball person eventually joined the effort, but even with two sets of hands, the bug remained a slippery foe.
ESPN’s commentators couldn’t help but laugh at the humorous intermission. Fans inside Arthur Ashe Stadium also got a kick out of the impromptu chase, with applause erupting when the ball person finally smushed the bug and reclaimed his post, grinning in relief.
While it wasn’t clear what type of insect caused the commotion, some online speculated it might have been a Spotted Lanternfly. These bugs have been a growing nuisance in New York City, particularly since the summer of 2022.
NOT ALL HEROES WEAR CAPES! pic.twitter.com/MzQ0JMRYJj
— US Open Tennis (@usopen) September 4, 2024
Known for damaging crops like apples and grapes, the Spotted Lanternfly has become somewhat infamous for invading outdoor spaces, including this high-stakes tennis match.
On social media, one user humorously quipped, “Lantern fly is the HOTTEST celebrity at the U.S. Open thus far,” a nod to the bug’s sudden star power in a match attended by actual celebrities like Roger Federer, Kevin Hart, Liberty basketball star Sabrina Ionescu, and NFL commissioner Roger Goodell.
The bug, though unlikely to take up residence in the sports history books, gave fans and players alike a brief moment of levity during an otherwise intense match.
Despite the uninvited guest, Tiafoe kept his focus and emerged victorious, advancing to the next round of the prestigious tournament. It seems, even in the world of professional tennis, a pesky bug can still steal the show—if only for a few minutes.
