Andy Murray’s father-in-law collapses watching Australian open

Instead of discussing the prospect of facing a local in the fourth round, Murray cancelled his post-match media conference following the collapse of father-in-law Nigel Sears.

Play was suspended indefinitely on Rod Laver Arena at the Australian Open on Saturday after Ana Ivanovic’s coach Nigel Sears required medical attention inside the stadium.

It is the second time in three days Ivanovic has had her match stopped for a medical incident.

Sears who is also the coach of Ana Ivanovic, was treated by medics on a stairway and Ivanovic’s match with Madison Keys on Rod Laver Arena was suspended for nearly an hour before resuming.

The Seven Network is reporting Sears was taken to hospital but is conscious, breathing and talking. His brother, Jamie Murray, was keeping track of Sears’ health, British media reported.

ESPN’s courtside reporter, former player Pam Shriver, said she had been told by Ivanovic’s team that Sears had complained of feeling unwell 30 minutes before the match.

The 28-year old Briton defeated the number 32 seed 6-2 3-6 6-2 6-2 in a fiercely contested game, the game which Murray comfortable took the first set but caved in for the Portuguese caught up with him.

He later released some comments about his match, saying he had struggled to put away the tigerish Sousa.

“I thought I struggled”.

“It was tricky. I didn’t feel I was in a great rhythm and wasn’t hitting the ball cleanly at the start”.

“He was hitting the ball great, close to the lines and making me do a lot of running”.

He will play the victor of the all-Australian clash between Bernard Tomic and John Millman in the fourth round. Two-time women’s champion Victoria Azarenka raced into the last 16 for the loss of just five games in total, and also saw Garbine Muguruza cleared from her path as the third seed crashed to Barbora Strycova.

Kei Nishikori was the first male player through to the quarterfinals, beating No. 9-seeded Jo-Wilfried Tsonga 6-4, 6-2, 6-4 in front of a partisan crowd filled with flag-waving Japanese fans. “Today’s victory was for that community, and a quick recovery and all of Canada, and I’m sure the world is behind you”.

The world number 23’s second round match against Anastasija Sevastova on Thursday was delayed by more than 25 minutes when a spectator fell down a set of stairs.

“Obviously it was a tough match“, Ivanovic said in a statement after the match.