Former US Open champion Dominic Thiem has needed to battle two Aussie opponents within the first spherical of qualifying for the Brisbane Worldwide, with a lethal snake forcing the suspension of play.
Key factors:
Play was quickly halted when followers on the Brisbane Worldwide noticed a snake on the court docket on SaturdayA snake catcher caught the lethal 50cm jap brown snake, permitting play to renewAustria’s Dominic Thiem went on to beat Australian teen James McCabe in three units
The previous world quantity three was taking over Australian teen James McCabe on Saturday, the Austrian veteran saving three match factors earlier than prevailing 2-6 7-6 (7-4) 6-4.
The 30-year-old Thiem was underneath the pump within the second set when followers courtside noticed the snake.
Safety employees have been known as in, however the umpire needed to quickly cease play when it slithered onto the court docket.
A snake catcher finally captured the reptile — a lethal 50cm jap brown — and eliminated it from the venue, permitting play to renew.
“I actually love animals, particularly unique ones,” Thiem mentioned after the match.
“However they mentioned it was a extremely toxic snake and it was near the ball children, so it was a extremely harmful state of affairs.
“It is one thing that has by no means occurred to me and it is one thing I will undoubtedly always remember.”
Thiem had regarded down and out at 3-5, 0-40 on McCabe’s serve.
However he saved all three match factors and compelled a tie-break earlier than finally prevailing to maneuver inside one victory of the principle draw.
“He [McCabe] was enjoying very effectively. He was serving extraordinarily effectively I believed … it was a superb win ultimately,” Thiem mentioned.
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 yr.
The Austrian additionally downed native hope Nick Kyrgios within the third spherical at Melbourne Park in 2021, however his profession went into free-fall resulting from a difficult wrist damage and flagging confidence.
Thiem has solely reached the second spherical at a grand slam as soon as since then, making it by way of the primary spherical at Flushing Meadows this yr.
His rating at one level sank exterior the highest 300, however he has climbed again to world quantity 98.
Thiem will depend on late withdrawals to keep away from qualifying for the Australian Open, having missed the cut-off for the principle draw by one place.
AAP