Sloane Stephens survived a very dramatic match at the 2022 Parma Open, but it wasn’t just dramatic because it was a close match, something else happened.
Playing outdoors in the sun in a place like Parma might seem like a really nice experience, but it depends on a few factors. The sun might be too harsh, which won’t make it that comfortable.
The opponent might be playing a really good match, which isn’t ideal either, or there might be a bee causing problems. That is exactly what happened to Stephens in her most recent match at the Parma Open.
The fourth seed was facing Magdalena Frech in a match that was complicated on its own. Frech is a solid player, quite capable on clay, and while Stephens is a former Roland Garros finalist, she didn’t have the easiest time.
It was the third set, and the score was 4-3 for Stephens, who was only two games away from winning the match. She then lost her serve to make it 4-4, and then, if that wasn’t enough, had to fight off a bee which ended up stinging her.
She did ultimately win the match 3-6, 6-3, 6-4, but it wasn’t a very pleasant experience, which she talked about on social media after the match.
"I got stung by a bee at 4-4 in the 3rd set during my match today and it was not a pleasant experience. 0/10 - Do not recommend."
Getting stung by a bee isn’t a very common experience for tennis players, but as this match proved, it can happen. Luckily, Stephens isn’t allergic to bee stings, so she could continue the match.
It was a dramatic day for Stephens in Parma, as she had to play a match that lasted two hours and 30 minutes and then was also stung by a bee.