A first-round tennis match at the Miami Open experienced an unusual interruption when an iguana casually walked onto the court.
The Miami Open, a major tennis event, is currently taking place in Florida.
The match between Elena-Gabriela Ruse and Polina Kudermetova on Court 7 became unexpectedly memorable.
During the deciding third set, play was paused when an iguana strolled onto the court.
Both tennis players had to wait while a worker used an umbrella to gently guide the reptile off the court.
The crowd, familiar with wildlife encounters in Florida, remained calm during the incident.
Once the iguana was safely off the court, the match resumed quickly.
Kudermetova won the second set 7-6, leveling the match after Ruse took the first set 6-1.
Ultimately, Ruse, from Romania, won the third set 6-2 and the match.
Ruse, ranked No. 50 in the world, will now compete against 29th seed Magdalena Frech in the next round.
In other tournament news, Naomi Osaka, a four-time major champion, made a successful return by defeating Yuliia Starodubtseva with scores of 3-6, 6-4, 6-3.
Osaka, who previously mentioned her defeat at Indian Wells as her “worst performance ever,” is playing her second match since an injury at the Australian Open.
Emma Raducanu is scheduled to play later today against wildcard Sayaka Ishii.
British No.1 Katie Boulter is also set to compete against Peyton Stearns.
In the men’s qualifying matches, British players Jacob Fearnley and Billy Harris both advanced to the main draw.
Harris will face Eliot Spizzirri, while Fearnley will play against Benjamin Bonzi.
Jack Draper, the recent Indian Wells champion, received a bye for the first round and will play against the winner of the match between Roberto Bautista Agut and Jakub Mensik in his first match at the Miami Open.
