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Murray advances, Ivanovic loses in Melbourne amid medical distraction
Andy Murray advanced to the fourth round and left the court immediately to check on the welfare of his father-in-law, who needed urgent medical treatment while watching Ana Ivanovic play on a nearby court at the Australian Open on Saturday.
Andy Murray advanced to the fourth round and left the court immediately to check on the welfare of his father-in-law, who needed urgent medical treatment while watching Ana Ivanovic play on a nearby court at the Australian Open on Saturday.
Four-time finalist Murray had a 6-2, 3-6, 6-2, 6-2 victory over No. 32 Joao Sousa on Saturday night and signed a few autographs but skipped the usual on-court interview before leaving Margaret Court Arena.
Nigel Sears, father of Murray’s pregnant wife, Kim, coaches Ivanovic and was working in that capacity at Rod Laver Arena when he became ill after the first set, needed treatment and was taken to a nearby hospital.
Ivanovic was leading Madison Keys 6-4, 1-0 before an almost one-hour delay. She knew it was Sears getting treatment before the players left the court for the match suspension. She returned to go up a break, but Keys leveled the match and then, after going down another break, won five straight games on the way to clinching a 4-6, 6-4, 6-4 win.
Ivanovic and Keys left the court without commenting, although a stadium announcer assured the crowd that Sears was OK, and had asked for a TV to be wheeled into his hospital room to watch the end of the match.
Ivanovic’s second-round match had also been suspended when a woman fell down a set of stairs in the upper level of the same stadium.
No. 8-seeded David Ferrer overwhelmed Steve Johnson 6-1, 6-4, 6-4 and to set up a meeting with another American in the next round. No. 10-seeded John Isner, who fired 44 aces as he advanced with a 6-7 (8), 7-6 (5), 6-2, 6-4 win over Feliciano Lopez.
