BRISBANE, Australia — Former U.S. Open champion Dominic Thiem had a brush with considered one of Australia’s most venomous snakes throughout a qualifying match on the Brisbane International on Saturday.

The former world No.3 was a set all the way down to 20-year-old Australian James McCabe in a primary spherical qualifying match when followers courtside noticed the snake.

Security personnel rapidly arrived, however the umpire needed to cease play because the snake slithered on to the court docket to the shock of the gamers and followers.

“I really love animals, especially exotic ones,” Thiem mentioned. “But they mentioned it was a extremely toxic snake and it was near the ballkids, so it was a extremely harmful state of affairs.

“It’s something that has never happened to me and is something I’ll definitely never forget.”

The snake - recognized as a 50 centimeter japanese brown snake and considered one of Australia’s most dangerous reptiles -was quickly safely eliminated permitting play to renew.

But Thiem was not but out of hazard as he needed to save three match factors earlier than leveling the match by successful the second set tiebreak. The 30-year-old then went on to clinch the deciding set for a 2-6. 7-6 (4), 6-4 win.

The Austrian, at present ranked No.98 after a number of years with a hard wrist harm, will face both Italian Giulio Zeppieri or one other Australian, Omar Jasika, within the remaining qualifying spherical tomorrow.

Thiem reached the ultimate of the Australian Open in 2020 when he pushed champion Novak Djokovic to 5 units, and received the US Open later that 12 months.

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