Dominic Thiem's Brisbane International qualifying match faced an unexpected interruption when a venomous snake, considered the world's second-most deadly slithered onto the court. The presence of this dangerous creature led to a temporary suspension of the match, requiring the assistance of a professional snake catcher.

Thiem's encounter with the snake

During the snake incident, former US Open champion Thiem, returning from a lengthy injury hiatus, found himself in the second set against Australia's James McCabe. Despite being a fan of animals, Thiem acknowledged the seriousness of the situation due to the snake's poisonous nature, especially considering its proximity to ball kids.

Snake removal

Security staff and the umpire took swift action, temporarily halting the match until a snake catcher could safely remove the intruder. Thiem, reflecting on the unusual incident after the match, emphasized the danger posed by the poisonous snake and expressed that it was an unforgettable experience.

Local expert Lucas Perrett, who successfully captured the snake, shared a humorous anecdote about informing his tennis-fan wife about the snake-catching endeavor, eliciting a playful request for an autograph, according to the reports.

Despite the disruption and being a set down at the time of the snake incident, Thiem demonstrated resilience, saving three match points against his 20-year-old Australian opponent. Ultimately, he secured a 2-6 7-6 (7-4) 6-4 victory, moving within one win of the main draw. Acknowledging McCabe's strong performance, Thiem praised his opponent's skills, particularly his effective serving, and deemed it a good win in the end.

Thiem's current ranking

Ranked 98 in the world due to a troublesome wrist injury, Thiem discussed his reliance on late withdrawals to avoid Australian Open qualifying, having narrowly missed the cut-off for the main draw by one place.