Melbourne: A mid-match medical emergency involving Ana Ivanovic’s coach — who is also the father of Andy Murray’s heavily pregnant wife Kim — caused concern and disruption on a dramatic evening at the Australian Open on Saturday.
Nigel Sears, 58, collapsed at Rod Laver Arena during Ivanovic’s match with Madison Keys, and needed emergency treatment as the shocked players and thousands of fans looked on.
The match was halted for just under an hour as the British coach was stretchered away before Serbia’s Ivanovic bravely resumed play — only to lose 6-4, 4-6, 4-6 to a determined Keys.
As the drama unfolded, Murray was playing at the adjacent Margaret Court Arena, watched by his mother Judy. He did not give the usual on-court interview after his 6-2, 3-6, 6-2, 6-2 win over Joao Sousa.
Two-time women’s champion Victoria Azarenka, back to her best after two years, raced into the last 16 after she blew away Japanese teenager Naomi Osaka in straight sets 6-1, 6-1.
Sania sails into last 16 of doubles events
Sania Mirza continued her rampaging run, advancing to the pre- quarterfinals of both the women’s doubles and mixed doubles.
In women’s doubles, top-seeded Sania and Martina Hingis beat the Ukrainian duo of Lyudmyla Kichenok and Nadiia Kichenok 6-2, 6-3 while in mixed, Sania and Croat Ivan Dodig, also seeded top, got the better of Ajla Tomljanovic and Nick Kyrgios 7-5, 6-1.
