WIMBLEDON was in chaos today after an invasion of randy flying ants caused disruption for players on the court.
The creepy critters are rampant at present and have just started their mating season while looking for a new partner.
And players were seen batting away the sex-crazed pests which swarmed across SW19, putting spectators off their Pimms and strawberries and cream.
Spectators were left fuming about the crawlers which were causing problems across Wimbledon on day three of the tournament.
Brit No 1 Johanna Konta was one player affected on Centre Court, which saw her repeatedly bat several away and even swallow some as she took on fellow ace Donna Vecic.
Konta, who overcame Croatia’s Donna Vekic in a lengthy three-setter on Centre Court, said: “There were many. It was interesting. I definitely have taken home a few, both in my belly and in my bags.”
Outside courts were also affected with another Briton, Aljaz Bedene, feeling the full force of nature in his meeting with Bosnia’s Damir Dzumhur on Court Three.
“I’ve never experienced it before, it was awkward,” said Bedene after his four-set victory.
“It was annoying. When you are playing a point, you only see the ball. But after the point, yeah, they were just flying around.
“You have to focus on your game. If you get a few flies on your back or head, if that bothers you, the games go away.
“Hopefully that was just today and they will be gone by Friday.”
So-called ‘flying ant day’ is an annual occurrence, in the warm weather, when ants sprout wings and leave their nests to mate.
Wimbledon is all about the flying ants
today
— Ed Clarke (@eddavidclarke) July 5, 2017
Sick of these flying ants…coming over here…invading our tennis courts!
#Wimbledon
— Pete (@pjh_est1983) July 5, 2017
Two-time semi-finalist Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, who beat Simone Bolelli of Italy in straight sets on Court Two, admitted: “That was strange.
“I’ve had a few experiences in the United States. Or in Australia also you have these kind of things.
“But that was a little bit different, because these were very small, but a lot. It was in my nose, and in my ear.”
America’s Sam Querrey even claimed the ants cost him a set in his eventual victory over Nikoloz Basilashvili of Georgia on Court 18.
“I’ve never seen that before,” he said. “If it got much worse, I almost wanted to stop because they were hitting you in the face when you were trying to hit balls. They were all over the place.
“I lost a set when the ants came. If I had won that set, they probably wouldn’t have bugged me as much.”
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