Dominic Thiem’s Brisbane International qualifying match against Australian James McCabe was suspended for 40 minutes on Saturday after a snake slithered courtside.

McCabe had just wrapped up the first set 6-2 against the 2020 US Open champion when the reptile was spotted among electrical wires on the side of the court in front of spectators.

Play was halted until a snake catcher arrived and managed to tease it into a bag.

It was not clear what type of snake it was, but Australia is home 20 of the world’s 25 most venomous.

However, deaths from bites are rare.

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