Ivanovic’s coach to leave hospital and fly home

Andy Murray’s father-in-law Nigel Sears was in a stable condition in hospital on Sunday following his collapse at the Australian Open.

As Murray was struggling with the Portuguese, Sears had fell ill in the stands whilst watching his player Ana Ivanovic play Madison Keys. Sears is said to be conscious and responsive.

Murray said he felt “drained” on Monday after expecting to find some sanctuary on the court, the incident had still affected him throughout the match against Tomic.

Murray, Ivanovic and Keys all cancelled their post-match press conferences and the men’s world number two was understood to have gone to the hospital to see Sears.

Murray defeated Australian’s Bernard Tomic 6-4 6-4 7-6 (7-4). But she came back strong with a very powerful game….

The second-seeded Murray had to work hard in a relatively taxing third round match against his Portuguese opponent, recovering to win in four after losing the second set, reports Xinhua.

Ivanovic did appear to be in better spirits upon the resumption of the match, even cracking a smile.

Murray said he would return home and quit the tournament if she went into labour.

Serbia’s Ana Ivanovic hits a shot during her third round match against Madison Keys of the USA, after play is resumed, at the Australian Open tennis tournament at Melbourne Park, Australia, January 23, 2016.

The Scot eased past the 16th seed in straight sets, winning 6-4, 6-4, 7-6(4) in a touch over two and half hours to reach his seventh consecutive quarter-final at the Melbourne event.

The World No 2 was already on tenterhooks with his wife Kim set to give birth to their first child and he has already said he will drop everything to fly home to be with her when the time comes.

It’s not just getting to the top 10 – I’m going to get there – it’s about staying there for a while.

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.

Ivanovic had already been somewhat shaken by a patron falling heavily and requiring medical attention in her previous round, but no-one could have predicted that her coach would feel unwell and leave, only to collapse on the stairs.

Sears, 58, was undergoing tests, but in good enough shape to ask for a TV so he could watch Ivanovic’s three-set loss to Keys. “So we hope there’s nothing bad and, of course, first is the family and the health, so I think it’s very good that Andy went there to be with him”.

Raonic faces a tough fourth-rounder against Stan Wawrinka, the 2014 Australian and 2015 French Open champion, who advanced past Lukas Rosol 6-2, 6-3, 7-6 (3).