Players including Iga Swiatek and Aryna Sabalenka were caught off guard by a staged prank involving a fake ancient vase at the Italian Open. The incident, organized with Belgian player Zizou Bergs, quickly went viral for its humorous results.
Tournament organizers at the Italian Open used a terracotta vase supposedly from the 3rd century B.C. to prank several top players. Participants were told the item was too valuable to touch after it was reportedly found during court renovations six months earlier. A hidden camera recorded the reactions when the vase was pushed to the ground and shattered.