Austrian tennis star Dominic Thiem confronted an unexpected adversary during a match in Brisbane – a highly venomous snake native to Australia. In the first-round qualifiers of the Brisbane International against Australian player James McCabe, the former world number three found himself sharing the court with the deadly reptile.

Thiem, known for his love of animals, especially exotic ones, expressed concern as the snake, a 50-centimeter-long brown species notorious for its venom, posed a serious threat, especially in proximity to children. Acknowledging the perilous situation, Thiem stated, "I love animals, but they said it was a poisonous snake and close to children, so the situation was dangerous. It is something that has never happened to me and is something that I will never forget." Swift action was taken to safely remove the snake from the court, allowing the match to resume. Thiem, who has been grappling with a recurring wrist injury, currently holds the 98th rank in the world.