Distracted Ivanovic loses to Keys in 3rd round

A third-round Australian Open match between American Madison Keys and former world No. 1 Ana Ivanovic was interrupted Saturday evening when Ivanovic’s coach, Nigel Sears, collapsed as he walked up the stairs inside Rod Laver Arena.

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.

Sears was then stretchered off court and taken to hospital but is now reported to be “conscious and breathing”.

Murray, whose wife Kim Sears has stayed home and is due to give birth in February, was initially oblivious to the situation.

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Saturday night turned into an eventful time at the Australian Open when Nigel Sears, Ana Ivanovic’s coach, collapsed and lost consciousness as he was trying to leave the player’s box. After beating Joao Sousa, Murray reportedly left right from the and joined his mother Judy to head to the hospital.

“It was tricky, I didn’t feel I was in a great rhythm and wasn’t hitting the ball cleanly at the start”, he said later in a statement released by tournament organisers.

Keys came back to win the match, 4-6, 6-4, 6-4.

Konta won 6-2 6-2 in Melbourne – to match her run to the last 16 of last year’s US Open – and will now face 21st seed Ekaterina Makarova on Monday.

The news on his wife’s father is encouraging as Murray’s brother, Jamie, told reporters that he is “undergoing tests” but was “conscious, talking and sitting up”.

His customary on-court interview was cancelled and it was also announced he would not be giving a post-match press conference.

Her second round match against Anastasija Sevastova was held up for 26 minutes when a woman fell in the stands at the same showcourt.

Murray, who spent another hour by his bedside this morning, showed his intention to continue in the first Grand Slam of the season by getting back on the court.

Azarenka will next play No. 48-ranked Barbora Strycova, who upset 2015 Wimbledon finalist Muguruza 6-3, 6-2.

EMTs worked on Sears for several minutes before taking him away on a stretcher.

He broke Murray’s first service game of the second stanza and kept up the pressure with some ferocious groundstrokes to take the first set off the second seed in the tournament so far.

“Maybe to me today’s match really sort of mattered heavily and I would do everything I can to find a way to win”, he said.