The presence of one of the world’s most venomous snakes on the court led to the interruption of the meeting between Austrian tennis player Dominic Thiem and Australian James McCabe during qualifying for the tournament in Brisbane, Australia.
The incident happened in the first set, in which McCabe, ranked 272nd in the world, had just won 6-2.
You can’t make this up: A 50cm long eastern brown snake – considered the second most venomous snake in the world – interrupted the qualifying battle between Thiem and McCabe in Brisbane
(video via Lblklk on Reddit) pic.twitter.com/QI5izBr6HN
– Gaspar Ribeiro Speer (@gasparlanca) December 30, 2023
The snake, identified as the brown snake (Pseudonaja textilis), is currently considered the second most venomous snake in the world, with its venom causing progressive paralysis and uncontrollable bleeding.
It was onlookers who noticed the presence of the approximately 50 centimeter large reptile, which was removed by a specialist, in a country where 20 of the 25 most poisonous snake species in the world live.
Austrian Dominic Thiem, 98th in the ATP world rankings, eventually won the next sets, 7-6 (7-4) and 6-4, to qualify for the second round of the Australian tournament qualifier.
Source: DN
