Australian Open: Andy Murray, Madison Keys sail amid drama

A mid-match medical emergency involving Ana Ivanovic’s coach — who is also the father of Andy Murray’s heavily pregnant wife — caused concern and disruption on a dramatic evening at the Australian Open on Saturday.

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.

The match was halted for just under an hour as the British coach was stretchered away before Serbia’s Ivanovic bravely resumed play — only to lose 4-6, 6-4, 6-4 to a determined Keys.

As the drama unfolded, Murray was playing at the adjacent Margaret Court Arena, watched by his mother Judy. He did not give the usual on-court interview after his 6-2, 3-6, 6-2, 6-2 win over Joao Sousa.

Murray, Ivanovic and Keys also cancelled their post-match press conferences.

However, a stadium announcer told the crowd at Rod Laver Arena that Sears was conscious and sitting up. “He’s okay,” he said, in a comment that was greeted with applause.

Uncannily, it was Ivanovic’s second match at Rod Laver Arena to be interrupted by a medical emergency after an elderly spectator fell on a stairway and also needed lengthy treatment on Thursday.

Murray has pledged to quit the tournament if his wife, who is due to give birth to their first child within weeks, goes into labour.

Earlier, French Open champion Stan Wawrinka brought up his 400th tour-level win to set up a clash with Milos Raonic, who was in mourning for victims of a Canadian high school shooting, which left four dead.

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.

Switzerland’s Wawrinka, who won his first Grand Slam title in Melbourne two years ago, wielded his signature one-handed backhand to devastating effect against Lukas Rosol as he rolled the Czech 6-2, 6-3, 7-6 (7/3).

The 2014 Australian Open champion now goes into a last-16 clash with Canada’s Raonic, who overwhelmed Victor Troicki 6-2, 6-3, 6-4.

Towering American John Isner outlasted Feliciano Lopez 6-7 (8/10), 7-6 (7/5), 6-2, 6-4 to set up a last-16 clash with David Ferrer, who beat Steve Johnson 6-1, 6-4, 6-4. Meanwhile, Azarenka blew away Japanese teenager Naomi Osaka 6-1, 6-1.

Sania Mirza continues good run Melbourne, Jan. 23: Sania Mirza continued her rampaging run, advancing to the pre-quarter-finals of the women’s doubles and mixed doubles events in the Australian Open here on Saturday.

In the women’s doubles, top-seeded Sania and Martina Hingis sailed past Ukrainians Lyudmyla Kichenok and Nadiia Kichenok 6-2, 6-3 to enter the pre-quarters. In the mixed event, Sania and Croat Ivan Dodig, also top seeds, got the better of Australians Ajla Tomljanovic and Nick Kyrgios 7-5, 6-1. Sania and Martina will next face the Russian-Italian combo of Svetlana Kuznetsova and Roberta Vinci.