Flying ants bugged Wimbledon loser Caroline Wozniacki, as the reigning Australian Open champion fell to Russian Ekaterina Makarova 6-4, 1-6, 7-5 Wednesday, The Guardian reported, but the athlete refused to blame the critters.
The flying ants invaded Court No. 1, where Wozniacki appeared rattled in losing the set before fighting back to win the second set impressively before losing the third set, The Guardian stated.
"They're in my mouth and in my hair and everywhere -- we need to do something," Wozniacki said during the match, according to CNN. "Is there a spray? I want to be here to focus on tennis, not eating bugs."
After the match, though, Wozniacki denied that the flying bugs had any impact in her loss, CNN reported.
"I don't think it had any impact," she said, according to the broadcaster. "But it was definitely a first for me here."
Wozniacki added, according to The Guardian: "(The match was) frustrating because I feel like I could have gone and done something really great here. For (Makarova) to keep this level, I would be very surprised if you saw her go far. But with someone playing like this today, I really did what I could. It just wasn't enough."
Wimbledon cited the Zoological Society of London in stating that the insects appeared to have arrived early this year for their mating season, CNN noted. The insects take part in their "nuptial flight," that lasts for a day or two across the country, the broadcaster reported.
The invasion of the flying ants in London was documented on social media.
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