Snake slithers on court, Dominic Thiem’s Brisbane International qualifier halted for 40 mins | Tennis News

The Brisbane International qualifying match between Dominic Thiem and James McCabe had to be halted for 40 minutes due to snake slithering on to the court.
The 50-centimetre snake which was identified as an eastern brown snake is one of Australia’s most deadly reptiles. It was ultimately safely removed from the venue a professional snake catcher.
“I really love animals, especially exotic ones. But, they said it was a really poisonous snake and it was close to the ball kids, so it was a really dangerous situation. It’s something that has never happened to me and is something I’ll definitely never forget,” Thiem said.
In the match, Thiem was a set down to the 20-year-old McCabe but went on to win the match 2-6, 7-6 (4), 6-4 and advance to the final round of qualifying.
The Austrian, currently ranked No.98 after several years with a troublesome wr injury, will face either Italian Giulio Zeppieri or another Australian, Omar Jasika, in the final qualifying round tomorrow.
Thiem reached the final of the Australian Open in 2020 when he pushed champion Novak Djokovic to five sets and won the US Open later that year.
Former world number one Rafa Nadal will also return to tennis at the Brisbane tournament on Sunday when he plays a doubles match alongside Marc Lopez, whom he partnered in 2016 to claim an Olympic gold medal.
The 22-times Grand Slam champion drew a qualifier in the singles draw as he geared up for the first stop of what could be his farewell tour, after shaking of a niggling hip injury that required surgery in June.
Naomi Osaka, Japan’s four-times major winner, is also returning to tennis in the women’s draw after her maternity break and plays Tamara Korpatsch.
(With Agency Inputs)