CONCERNED: Ana Ivanovic looking on anxiously as her coach, Nigel Sears (above), receives medical treatment after collapsing in the stands during the Serb’s third-round match.
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The crowd will be with Murray’s opponent in Round 4, who will be 16th seed and home favourite Bernard Tomic, after he came past fellow Aussie, John Millman. Murray’s brother Jamie told reporters that the 58-year-old, who has been taken to hospital for tests, was “conscious, talking and sitting up”.
The second seed only learned of Sears’ setback after beating Portugal’s Joao Sousa in four sets on Margaret Court Arena.
The four-time finalist wore down the 33rd-ranked Sousa to win 6-2, 3-6, 6-2, 6-2 in two hours and 38 minutes, while Nigel Sears, father of his heavily pregnant wife, Kim, needed emergency medical treatment.
A medical emergency overshadowed matches on adjoining courts at the Australian Open when Nigel Sears, who is Ana Ivanovic’s coach and Andy Murray’s father-in-law, was rushed to a hospital while both of their third-round matches were in progress.
“It was very worrying to begin with and, when I saw him lying on the steps, he looked so grey facially”, he told the Guardian.
“This must be the first match I won on a challenge but it felt like a clean ball – I felt like it was on the line, I was really positive about it but I thought worst-case scenario we’re back to deuce”.
Sears underwent tests on Saturday night but was in good enough shape to ask for a TV so he could watch Ivanovic’s three-set loss to Keys.
Keys, a semi-finalist a year ago, also did not speak about the delay, only thanking the fans for their support on a tough day.
Tournament organizers said Murray, Ivanovic, and Keys wouldn’t be available for interviews, leaving Sousa as the only one of the four players involved in those night matches who commented on the episode.
On the other hand, fourth-seeded Stan Wawrinka registered a routine win as he defeated Lukas Rosol 6-2 6-3 7-6 (7-3).
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“I just heard that Andy went direct to the hospital. All of Canada, and I’m sure the world, is behind you”, said an emotional Raonic, who was close to tears as he addressed the crowd after his match. Meanwhile Azarenka, back to her best after two years of injury trouble, blew away Japanese teenager Naomi Osaka 6-1, 6-1 as she accelerated into the second week.
